What to expect from tech in 2026

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Tech Life looks ahead to 2026, spotlighting consumer gadgets from CES, rapid progress in assistive tech, gaming releases expected to dominate the year, and AI’s growing role in shopping and retail. Across the episode, guests argue that technology is becoming more personalized, more ambient, and more agent-driven, shifting from tools people operate to systems that act on their behalf.

Main Topics: CES 2026 gadget preview (Priority: 5/5): Shona McCallum reports from Las Vegas on the Consumer Electronics Show, highlighting experimental and practical devices including pet communication tools, sleep-focused smart home tech, allergen detection, and companion robots. Assistive technology and accessibility (Priority: 5/5): Emma Tracy speaks with accessibility experts about how AI, smart glasses, and haptic wearables may help blind, low-vision, autistic, and other disabled users navigate digital services and real-world environments. Smart home systems becoming AI-driven (Priority: 4/5): The episode explores how homes are increasingly adapting to users through AI-controlled lighting, blinds, doors, and improved video doorbells that provide contextual alerts rather than simple motion detection. Most anticipated games of 2026 (Priority: 4/5): Tom Gherkin and Laura Kress discuss the major gaming releases expected in 2026, especially Grand Theft Auto VI, plus Steam Machine, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the new James Bond game, and Marvel's Wolverine. AI agents and the future of shopping (Priority: 5/5): Futurologist John Varry predicts that AI agents will increasingly shop on consumers’ behalf, negotiating with brand agents and making physical shopping more about experience than transaction. Space junk and orbital sustainability (Priority: 3/5): Listener Mike Davidson raises concerns about orbital debris and the Kessler syndrome, prompting a brief discussion of the growing risk of satellite collisions and the need for mitigation.

Key Arguments: Consumer tech in 2026 is becoming more personalized and speculative, with CES showcasing both lifestyle gadgets and niche problem-solvers. Assistive technology is moving beyond basic access tools toward AI systems that can interpret environments, complete online tasks, and provide real-time contextual help. Smart glasses are emerging as a major accessibility platform because they combine cameras, microphones, speakers, and cloud AI to describe scenes and provide navigation support. Wearables that convert social cues into haptic feedback could help users who struggle with body language, including blind and autistic users. The smart home is shifting from user-controlled automation to systems that learn patterns and proactively adapt lighting, blinds, doors, and security alerts. Gaming in 2026 may be defined by a few huge titles and platform moves, with GTA VI seen as the main commercial and cultural event. Retail may become increasingly agent-mediated, with AI shopping assistants negotiating deals and recommending purchases based on personal data and context. Physical shopping is expected to remain, but more as an emotional and social experience than a transactional one.

Data Points: GTA VI release expectation: November 2026 - Laura Kress says she expects Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI to launch then, despite delays. Allergen detection time: Less than two minutes - Allergen Alert says its device can provide qualitative positive/negative results very quickly. Allergens initially detected: Milk and gluten - Allergen Alert says the first version focuses on these allergens before expanding. Allergen expansion target: Top nine allergens - The company plans to expand detection beyond the initial allergens. Smart glasses rollout: Limited rollout in the US - Robin Christofferson notes the next-generation smart glasses are already available in limited US release. Retail forecast horizon: 5 to 10 years - John Varry frames his shopping predictions over this time span. Episode format: 2026 preview - The program focuses on technology expected to matter over the next 12 months and beyond.

Pivotal Quotes: "We will have agents, AI agents, working on our behalf that are looking for the best sales based on our preferences that are engaging with the agents of brands." — John Varry: Predicting how shopping and sales will change over the next five to ten years. "What I love about that is it allows your environment and your home to adapt to you versus you having to adapt to the technology." — Steve Ewell: Explaining the significance of AI in smart-home systems for disabled and older users. "The biggest thing in 2026 is unequivocally going to be Grand Theft Auto VI, supposing that it actually launches." — Tom Gherkin: Discussing the most anticipated game release of the year.

Implications: Listeners can expect more ambient, AI-mediated technology: smarter homes, more capable accessibility tools, and shopping assistants that act for them. For industry, 2026 looks set to reward products that feel invisible, personalized, and useful rather than flashy.