Global Scans · Intelligence · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: There will be an increased demand for software and services that deliver intelligence, personalization, and specialization. Artificial intelligence could become a $15+ bn opportunity by 2025. Combining human and machine cognition for engagement decisions could yield the precision and reliability of automation without sacrificing the robustness and flexibility that humans bring. The first effect of machine intelligence will be to lower the cost of goods and services that rely on prediction.

• [New] By 2026, cybersecurity vendors will be judged on how deeply AI is embedded into their detection lifecycle. ThePromptBuddy
• [New] New endpoint platforms like Alif's Ensemble E8, built on Arm technology, will show how ultra-low-power nodes can handle complex workloads at the very edge, hinting at a future where intelligence is embedded everywhere, even in the tiniest devices. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] At CES 2026, expect to see demonstrations of AI systems handling route planning, energy management, and adaptive driver assistance that responds in real-time. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] In 2026, media archives will stand at the heart of a global shift: as Generative AI accelerates, audio-visual collections will become strategic training fuel for AI models. Public Media Alliance
• [New] As policing enters 2026, artificial intelligence will no longer be an emerging issue, it will be a defining leadership test. Police1
• [New] 2026 will be the year news publishers fully leverage generative AI to better serve their audiences. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] 2026 will see news organizations increasingly use agentic AI for the end-to-end automation of complex workflows. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] AI models will become a sticky layer across everything in 2026, absorbing time and attention, not for news in the narrow sense, but as catch-all interfaces for information and entertainment. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] The White House and states will spar over who gets to govern the booming technology, while AI companies wage a fierce lobbying campaign to crush regulations, armed with the narrative that a patchwork of state laws will smother innovation and hobble the US in the AI arms race against China. MIT Technology Review
• [New] OpenAI is projected to launch a dedicated Operating System for AI agents in mid-2026. Peter Fisk
• [New] By 2026, leading enterprises will have moved from simple chatbots to Agentic AI-autonomous systems capable of executing complex, multi-step workflows in finance, HR, and supply chain management. Peter Fisk
• [New] Agentic AI adoption will become the norm in 2026. Talkwalker
• [New] Data Trust Will Decide AI Success or Collapse In 2026, hackers will focus more on data poisoning than data stealing. https://www.uscsinstitute.org/cybersecurity-insights/bl
• [New] By the end of 2026, 40% of enterprise applications will include task-specific AI agents. Rellify
• [New] In 2026, AI will be defined by intelligence, autonomy, and seamless integration across industries, with trends like agentic AI, synthetic content, AGI, and invisible AI reshaping work, creativity, and daily life. https://www.usaii.org/ai-insights/top-10-ai-trends-to-w
• [New] Increased Regulatory and Compliance Pressure: Governments across the world will enact new AI and data privacy regulations, forcing organizations to take action on compliance and governance. https://www.usaii.org/ai-insights/top-10-ai-trends-to-w
• [New] Prompt engineering will emerge as a unique career path by 2026, a key contributor to unlocking the capacity of AI to make meaningful, maximized systems. https://www.usaii.org/ai-insights/top-10-ai-trends-to-w
• [New] Current survey by Deloitte data highlights that while over half of AI leaders are still in pilot phases, nearly half of broader respondents expect autonomous AI agents to significantly transform their organizations within the next 2-3 years. https://www.usaii.org/ai-insights/top-10-ai-trends-to-w
• [New] 44% of AI leaders foresee extensive Physical AI adoption within two years, while 36% of respondents expect significant impact, signaling strong alignment on its transformative role. https://www.usaii.org/ai-insights/top-10-ai-trends-to-w
• [New] At CES 2026, xTool will introduce AImake, the world's first AI crafting agent designed to serve as an intelligent creative partner for laser and crafting users. The AI Journal
• [New] The digital world's power is reflected in the growing importance and shifting expectations for artificial intelligence, with 68% of CEOs saying that they plan to increase their AI spending in 2026. O'Dwyers PR
• Agentic commerce transactions are expected to take place through AI platforms commonly used by consumers, such as ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, as well as through merchant, bank and app-specific agents. / USA CNBC

Last updated: 06 January 2026