Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: TMT Predictions 2026: The AI gap narrows but persists in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
Thanks in large part to the increasing use of artificial intelligence, companies in AI’s home industry—tech, media and telecommunications—constituted 53% of the S&P 500’s market capitalization by late 2025, up from 19% in 2008. However, the biggest TMT industry story of the coming year might be the dawn of a quieter, more mature era for AI, focused less on splashy breakthroughs and more on making AI work at scale.
Deloitte predicts that in 2026 and beyond, the gap between AI’s promise and its practical value likely will shrink, powered by steady, behind-the-scenes advances in how organizations meet their AI inference computing needs, yield operational benefits from AI agent orchestration, help address labor shortages with AI-enabled industrial robotics and drones, and more. But growth and innovation come with challenges: Geopolitical tensions expose fragile semiconductor supply chains, prompting nations to pursue technology sovereignty. Generative AI video on social media risks fueling misinformation, likely intensifying calls for regulation and content labeling. Telecom providers may also struggle to attract consumers with ever-faster internet speeds, necessitating a shift to other incentives.
Learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing the TMT industry in the full report.