What robotic technology/technologies do you expect will make the most impact in 2026?
Perhaps it's not surprising that I think safety in physical AI is going to play a huge role in 2026. New AI-powered robots are starting to prove positive ROI, but widespread scaling requires collective maturation regarding safety. A perfect storm is brewing that combines safety standardization with enterprise deployment with maturing autonomous solutions, and the result will be massive growth in the scope and sophistication of safety solutions deployed for robotics.
What is your boldest robotics prediction for 2026?
There will be record numbers of new starts, company deaths, and IPO's all at the same time. Also, many more companies will start running third-party software instead of trying to do everything themselves.
What industry/industries do you expect will invest more in robotics and automation in 2026 and why?
Construction has historically lagged other sectors in robotics deployment. However, increasing technology maturity, continued low margins, and worsening labor shortages make construction ripe for robotics growth. Also, India is likely to become a larger player in the global robotics ecosystem than it has in the past. I also think aviation is full of opportunities for robotics but it will likely take longer than 2026 for this sector to "take off."
GENISOM AI makes ICRA debut at conference in Vienna
World's first omni-modal evaluation including tactile sensing for…
Ultrasonic sensing enhances robotics perception
Cybernetix Ventures’ event kicks off Robotics Tech Week 2026 slate of events
