2026 will be a transitional year defined by technology ecosystem expansions — multiparty alliances spanning IT, OT, devices, edge and silicon; industrial/physical AI acceleration, especially at the edge and in manufacturing; and strategic bottlenecks as skill shortages and infrastructure gaps slow sovereign AI adoption. TBR expects significant changes in how technology vendors collaborate and compete, which lays the groundwork for broader, more integrated AI ecosystems.

This is an optimistic prediction. Multiparty alliances require exceptional leadership, shared understanding of commercial models and transparency among partners, and AI aids only the last of these. The human component remains the most significant roadblock. IT-OT convergence and a surge in connected everything have been a TBR (and broader market) prediction for years, and while “signs point to yes,” as the Magic 8 Ball says, 2026 could be another year of disappointing progress, as hype around physical AI could far outpace reality.

Lastly, TBR may be underestimating the AI skills shortages and the potential for enterprise buyers to dial back their AI spend, creating new pressures on tech companies across the ecosystem to show ROI on the billions invested in AI since ChatGPT launched. On balance, TBR anticipates accelerated AI adoption and even tighter ecosystem alliances will lead to another Magic 8 Ball answer, “Outlook good.”