Megatrends 2026: AI creates business opportunities

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence represent the single biggest transformation to affect working life and business since the Industrial Revolution and the steam engine. ChatGPT was released just over three years ago, and we can already see that certain professions and skills are becoming obsolete. In Sitra’s Megatrends 2026 publication, AI has been named as one of four key areas: “AI is transforming the foundations of society.”

Like all megatrends, AI is both a threat and an opportunity. According to Sitra, AI will have a significant impact on the media environment, education, research, working life and decision-making: on every area of life and every industry.

AI in your pocket, on your glasses, or in your head

How many people in 1993 could have imagined that we would carry devices in our pockets giving us access to all the world’s knowledge? Similarly, it can be difficult to imagine just how comprehensively AI will integrate into our work and lives in the coming decades. Technology adoption follows an S-curve:first a small group becomes enthusiastic, then the masses follow.

• AI applications that optimise wellbeing and healthcare.
• Emotion translators that improve communication and interaction.
• Real-time translators for foreign languages.
• Personal assistants that manage meta-tasks.
• Automated communicators that interact with other AI-based communicators.
• Documentation tools and extended memory that help manage the information flood and serve as an external “harddrive” for humans.
• Fully AI-generated, personalised entertainment tailored to individual preferences.

Routine tasks in the AI cloud

AI will seamlessly blend into all everyday technology. Home appliances will optimise energy consumption, the fridge will order missing groceries on its own, the washing machine will select the right programme (and a household robot will take care of the laundry). Cars will drive themselves, as is already the case in San Francisco..

In work, routine tasks will become automated and time will be freed for creative problem-solving and human connection. Much is said about the negative effects of AI on working life so let’s focus on the opportunities.

• Automated financial management: bookkeeping, payroll and other business administration.
• Procurement assistants that handle necessary purchases.
• Smart home appliances that carry out their tasks without human input.
• Self-driving cars (it is always worth recalling how the first cars were named: ”horseless carriage”.)
• Skills platforms that match talent with organisational needs.
• AI automation and robots in manufacturing that optimises production efficiency, quality and demand responsiveness.

The rapid growth of AI is also increasing energy consumption and placing greater strain on data centres. This creates opportunities for sustainable IT solutions and innovations that help manage the environmental burden.