8 technology trends that set the tone for 2026

With things moving at breakneck speed, we sat down to discuss technology trends and predictions for 2026.

Here are the takeaways from our Tech Industry Review public discussion, featuring tech leaders and a venture expert.

[fs-toc-h2]Engineering shifts from coding to guiding

[fs-toc-omit]1. Engineering shifts from coding to guiding

With workflows now largely AI-native, engineers spend less time writing code by hand and more time managing AI agents. 

The value of engineering work is increasingly found in architectural judgment, system-level thinking, long-term maintenance, and communication skills.
‍

[fs-toc-h2]AI moves into its monetization phase

[fs-toc-omit]2. AI moves into its monetization phase

By 2026, impressive AI demos are no longer enough to win over investors. What they want now is revenue. 

Teams are expected to turn existing AI capabilities into products that customers willl actualy be willing to pay for.
‍

[fs-toc-h2]Pressure on engineers intensifies

[fs-toc-omit]3. Pressure on engineers intensifies

The focus on monetization also changes how engineering work is evaluated. 

Engineers are more often asked to explain their impact clearly and show how their work contributes to business results.
‍

[fs-toc-h2]AI tools split by use case

[fs-toc-omit]4. AI tools split by use case

Over the past year, a real AI market has taken shape. Tools like Gemini and Claude carved their clear and practical niches. 

As 2026 begins, ChatGPT is still widely used, but it is no longer the go-to tool for everything.

[fs-toc-h2]Return-to-office wins

[fs-toc-omit]5. Return-to-office wins (for now)

Despite strong opinions that remote work supports productivity, the return-to-office trend continued to grow in 2025.

As of early 2026, the new default is hybrid, or, in case of many established companies, even five-days office presence.
‍

[fs-toc-h2]Regulation stays present, but permissive

[fs-toc-omit]6. Regulation stays present, but permissive

Going into 2025, many expected regulation — especially around AI — to tighten aggressively. Instead, enforcement was pushed back¹ and applied unevenly². 

Today rules are clearly part of the landscape, but they don't appear to slow down innovation as severely as many feared.
‍

[fs-toc-h2]Technology becomes geopolitical

[fs-toc-omit]7. Technology becomes geopolitical

We’re seeing technology become closely tied to politics — the bans on TikTok in the United States¹ and GPU export restrictions² are vivid examples.

In early 2026, how technology is built and used often depends not only on technical or market considerations, but also on the political context.
‍

[fs-toc-h2]Unpopular opinion: juniors might have it easier

[fs-toc-omit]8. Unpopular opinion: juniors might have it easier

Breaking into tech is still difficult, but some see advantages for junior engineers. Starting in an AI-native environment means learning modern workflows from day one, without needing to unlearn older habits. 

For this reason, some companies choose to hire straight out of school.

[fs-toc-h2]Bonus point

[fs-toc-omit]... and families might bond over TikToks

The growing popularity of vertical TVs reflects a broader shift: short-form content is moving from personal screens to shared spaces. What was once a strictly solo activity is now making its way into the living room.

Maybe it's the final blow to our attention span.

But apparently, even in the age of infinite scroll, we still prefer to scroll together.

‍

Important note

This article reflects the personal opinions shared during the Tech Industry Review livestream on technology trends and predictions for 2026. We’re not pretending to be analysts or claiming a definitive truth.

Livestream participants:

• Anton Zhuravsky — Co-Founder at On The Spot
• Daria Reutovich — Fractional Operator at VCs
• Roman Bugaev — CTO at Flo Health
• Dmitry Volokh — Engineering Manager at Google
• Katya Shkor — PR Team Lead at On The Spot, moderator

Watch the full Tech Industry Review 2025-26 discussion on Youtube.