AI forecast 2026 doesn’t just hint at big changes, it promises a total shakeup. According to TrendForce, AI is breaking free from pure software and charging headfirst into hardware. Phones are bending, chips are overheating, and robots are eyeing your errands.
AI forecast 2026 is all heat and hardware
The once-software-first AI boom is going physical. TrendForce sees AI taking the driver’s seat in ten major trends for the year. Topping the list: hardware is catching fire figuratively and literally.
Nvidia’s B200 and B300 chips are expected to blow past 1,000 watts of power draw. That’s well beyond what traditional air cooling can handle. The answer? Liquid cooling, and fast. By 2026, nearly half of AI servers are expected to require it just to stay online.
Meanwhile, to prevent networks from choking on the firehose of training data, HBM4 memory and silicon photonics are taking over. The latter replaces electricity with light to transmit data speeding things up while cutting down power waste.
The Unitree G1 humanoid robot stuns with pro-level basketball moves, trained using HKUST’s SkillMimic system for lifelike agility.
Foldable iPhone expected in AI forecast 2026
Yes, foldables might finally go mainstream. Apple is rumored to be launching its first foldable iPhone by the end of 2026. If true, it’s entering late but not lightly. Specialized hinges made of liquid metal may allow Apple to dodge the crease problem that plagued early rivals. That said, the device won’t come cheap pricing could shoot past $2,000.
Apple plans to upgrade MacBook Pros by swapping LCDs for OLED displays, delivering richer contrast and deeper blacks to its workhorse lineup.
AI forecast 2026 means servers get soaked
Forget fans those aren’t going to cut it anymore. Cooling demands from next-gen AI chips are rewriting the rules. Nvidia’s latest silicon eats so much power, data centers are shifting en masse to liquid-based solutions.
Here’s how the cooling overhaul is expected to break down:
- Nearly 50% of AI servers to use liquid cooling
- Traditional air systems lose relevance
- Major chipmakers pivot designs to match thermal needs
- Data centers redesigning infrastructure
Still, the real squeeze is data movement. With AI models needing mountains of information fast, HBM4 and photonic data transfer aren’t just upgrades they’re survival tools.
AI forecast 2026 brings a robot surge
Smart machines are getting arms and legs. Sales of humanoid robots are projected to jump by 700%. These aren’t toys they’re home assistants, warehouse workers, maybe even delivery drivers. Their smarts come from the same AI models driving ChatGPT, but now they’re mobile.
Meta is also betting big on wearables. Meta plans to equip its next AR glasses with LEDoS tech bright, sharp, and smart enough to push AI visuals straight onto your eyeballs.
It has no brakes
From foldable phones to robots on your doorstep, 2026 clearly won’t be a mild upgrade cycle. In fact, AI’s growing hunger is already forcing every layer of tech to adaptscreens, chips, wires, even glasses. At this point, it’s no longer just hype. Now, it’s hardware. And it’s here.
