Here are our 2026 predictions for AI, marketing, and business:
1. ChatGPT traffic won’t beat Google on volume. But it will rival it on conversions. People won’t “search” for products. They’ll ask ChatGPT what to buy.
2. Vibe coding will die and demand for expert engineers will rise. AI can speed things up, but it can’t replace thinking. Businesses will realise they still need experts to guide it. Genuinely, if you thought you built slack in a weekend, you do not understand Slack.
3. AI won’t feel impressive anymore. People will see through it. What matters is how AI augments human workflows. Copycat, vibe-coded apps won’t last.
4. SaaS and agents will blur into one category. Every SaaS will add agentic features. Every agent will need SaaS fundamentals. Those that don’t adapt won’t survive.
5. Analog businesses will surge. In-person events, film cameras, magazines. These become status signals as people crave craftsmanship and real connection.
6. Specialised, vertical AI models will drive innovation. Real innovation will come from vertical models in regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, and public safety.
7. AI-powered education will disrupt traditional learning. Parents who adapt will use AI as a coach to build personalised learning around skills that actually matter.
8. Widened gap between "leaders" and "laggards". AI-mature companies will win through better decisions, better foundational data, and stronger customer experience.
9. The dead internet theory becomes visible in 2026. Bots already dominate traffic. Expect more gated spaces, stronger identity checks, and friction to prove you’re human.
10. Hybrid creator-media models will rise in popularity. Editorial standards, recurring formats, and diversified revenue like memberships, courses, and SaaS.
11. Long-form video will dominate socials in 2026. People are tired of short-form junk. Long-form builds trust and depth at scale.
(Here's hoping.)
12. Platforms like Substack will keep growing. Especially for thinkers who layer written content with audio and video.
13. We’re entering a zero-trust era. Content supply is infinite. Knowing what’s real won’t be obvious. Verification and authentication will matter.
14. The quiet winners will focus on basics. Clean data, good tracking, and deep customer understanding, while others chase shiny AI tools.
15. Multimodality won’t be the priority yet. Investment stays focused on reasoning and coding, the foundations of strong models.
What's one prediction you have for 2026?
Let me know in the comments.
If prediction #1 comes true, and I believe it will,
Your business needs to be visible in AI search.
