What will AI actually improve in 2026?

From excitement to real-world testing: AI will come of age in 2026. What was still hype yesterday is turning into tangible value today. Our columnist Markus Sekulla asked AI professionals where the technology will truly make things better in 2026. Their answers show that it is no longer about marveling at the technology itself, but about what it gives back to us: time, creativity, and genuine human connection.

Zamina Ahmad

AI & ML Product Builder, CEO, shades&contrast

Entrepreneurship is becoming democratic. The number of startup foundations has reached a record high: 29 percent more than in 2024, according to the German Startup Association.

The reason? AI.

To develop an app in 2026, you no longer need a degree in computer science. 75 percent of all new apps are created with the help of AI, and 80 percent of users do not come from IT teams. People without a tech background are now building software themselves. The idea matters, not the diploma. The consequence: 41 percent of the world’s code is AI-generated.

Vibe coding is no longer a trend in 2026. It is the new reality of innovation.

Jörg Schieb

Expert in artificial intelligence and digitalisation, self-employed

I hope that in 2026 AI will finally move from being a hype topic to becoming a self-evident tool. That people no longer ask, “Can I trust AI?”, but instead know very concretely: “This is how I use AI optimally for my tasks.”

The best possible development would be for AI literacy to become a basic requirement, just like Word or Excel today.

Then we can stop marveling at the technology and start using the time we gain for what really matters: creativity, real conversations, new ideas. AI as a turbo, not as a topic.

Bianca Scheffler

Head of Artificial Intelligence | AI Technology & Solutions | Lead AI CoE, KPMG Switzerland

The change in 2026 is an opportunity to build a society in which technology does not replace us, but frees us up for what truly matters: being there for one another and shaping the world with human intelligence. If we use technology responsibly and put people at the center, digital transformation will become genuine human progress.

Max Mundhenke

Co-founder, Botbakery

In 2026, AI will finally make social media better. AI slop will disappear. Nobody wants to see it anymore, and neither do the algorithms. What remains are good ideas and, thanks to rapidly improving tools, clean and innovative productions. AI will increasingly become the creative tool that enables astonishing results: creative short videos, music, and entirely new formats. Quality beats quantity.

Elisabeth L'Orange

Partner AI & Data, Deloitte

In 2026, AI will noticeably give time back. It will handle routine work autonomously, reliably summarise meetings and documents, and prepare decisions with clear scenarios. In customer service, claims processing, and marketing, this leads to shorter turnaround times and fewer errors. For people, this means more focus on empathy, creativity, and strategic thinking instead of click work.

Thomas Riedl

Tech journalist and host Spatial Realities

Perhaps 2026 will be the year we leave AI feature spam behind us. It would be a chance to move from hype to real value creation. Once we understand where AI truly helps and where it merely dazzles, the tools lose their magic. And finally become useful. This new sobriety would give us the freedom to address the most pressing problem of our time: how do we compensate for the immense resource hunger of this technology?

Pina Meisel

Senior Comms Managerin for Future of Work, Copilot & Surface, Microsoft Germany

Over the past year, we have seen AI move from initial experimentation to real application in many areas. This is especially true in research and healthcare. That is exactly where I expect even more progress in 2026: better analysis of complex data, faster insights, and tools that support professionals in their daily work. This is not a “nice to have,” but has the potential to make care and knowledge more widely accessible. And in the end, we all benefit from that.

For me and my day-to-day work, “what AI will make better in 2026” is very practical: even more automation of routines that currently consume time. Not to work completely independently from my team, but quite the opposite. I want to consciously invest the time gained in what AI cannot replace: empathetic, trusting, and appreciative collaboration and togetherness. Because I can create content with just a few clicks. Real relationships cannot.

Mathias Bock

Asset Owner ERGO GPT, ERGO Group AG

In the insurance context, AI will above all make things more human in 2026. Not because it has emotions, but because it gives us back time. Less routine, less copy-paste, less form logic. This allows us to be more present in the moments that truly matter, to listen, to contextualise, and to help.

And it will make insurance more understandable. I expect that in 2026, customers will no longer have to navigate technical jargon, but will receive clear answers. What does this mean for me? What are my options? What happens next?

If we use AI correctly – transparently, fairly, and with respect for data protection – administration will turn into tangible support.