Beyond adoption: How 2026 will reshape AI, robotics and the future of work

By Sachin Panicker, Chief AI Officer, Fulcrum Digital

Technology has entered a phase where certainty is no longer a luxury we can depend on. The landscape is shifting so quickly that predicting the future increasingly feels like informed intuition rather than precision. Yet after decades of working closely with emerging technologies, a few themes stand out as signals that may shape the next year and beyond.

2026: The iPhone Moment for Robotics
When the first iPhone arrived in 2007, it seemed like a beautifully designed phone. Only later did the world realise it was the start of an entirely new digital ecosystem. Despite unreliable networks and an undeveloped app landscape, within a few years every business understood the necessity of mobile presence.

Robotics today is at a similar turning point. In 2026, I believe the world will finally recognise robotics at scale. What has long been clear ...