3 manufacturing trends for 2026 that nobody’s talking about

Here’s a familiar scene.

Another year, another wave of manufacturing trend predictions. AI agents that will revolutionize operations. Digital twins that mirror reality. Supply chain platforms promising real-time visibility. Sustainability dashboards track every carbon molecule.

All of it matters. All of its real. But there’s something else happening beneath the surface that deserves attention.

Manufacturing’s biggest opportunity in 2026 isn’t just the technology everyone’s buying. It’s the information foundations most are overlooking.

Let me explain why this matters.

Trend #1: Information-native AI (your AI needs better content, not better algorithms)

The AI momentum is undeniable. ServiceNow is targeting $1 billion in AI revenue. SAP just announced 130+ AI capabilities. IDC predicts 80% of enterprises will have generative AI in production by 2026.

The technology is ready. The question is: is your content?

Your AI is only as intelligent as the information it can find ...