From generative content to agentic action – the Future 100 is your definitive guide to the trends rewriting human-machine interaction.

The Technology sector is in metamorphosis. The passive tools of yesterday are becoming the active partners of tomorrow. With 75% of people believing the line between human and technology will blur, staying ahead isn't just an advantage, it's essential for survival. Are you prepared for a future where AI agents negotiate deals, interfaces dissolve into reality, and emotional intelligence becomes the new currency?

To help you navigate and capitalize on these exciting new opportunities for growth, our vertical cut on the top 10 trends in Technology from our Future 100 report reveals how these trends are not just about smarter machines – but about creating a more seamless, intuitive and human-centric existence.

Top trends in Technology from our Future 100 report include:

Generative realities 02

#11: Generative realities

In gaming and simulation, technology is moving from pre-rendered assets to real-time generation, creating infinite, adaptive worlds that evolve based on user interaction.

Synthetic generation 01

#12: Synthetic generation

The rise of hyper-realistic "digital humans" and AI talent is creating a new demographic of synthetic employees and influencers, challenging the definition of authenticity and labor.

AI storyworlds 03

#91: AI storyworlds

AI is revolutionizing storytelling, reshaping not just how stories are visualized, but also how they will be experienced. AI will likely conjure realities "no human has ever conceived."

Download our 2026 Future 100 Technology vertical cut here:

Agentic AI represents the shift from AI that merely creates content (generative) to AI that takes action. These intelligent systems act as active partners, autonomously handling tasks, negotiating, and making decisions on your behalf.

As AI-generated deepfakes proliferate, the ability to verify reality becomes essential. With 71% of people believing AI makes it impossible to know what's true, "provenance technology" that authenticates content is becoming as valuable as the AI that creates fiction.

As computing moves from screens to smart glasses and other ambient devices, customer interactions will fundamentally change. It shifts marketing from a destination (like a website) to a contextual, responsive layer of reality, demanding new strategies for engagement that anticipate user needs.

Watch our Future 100 video

F100 2026 Promo Video 1

Welcome to the 12th edition of “The Future 100” – VML’s unparalleled research report examining key global trends. This report features our latest projections, interviews with top industry experts, exclusive statistics and global consumer insights for 2026 from a proprietary 16-country survey.

At a Glance
70%

Of Gen Z say they like the idea of escaping to a different reality through tech

At a Glance
75%

Believe the line between what is human and what is technology will blur

At a Glance
49%

Report forming a meaningful relationship with AI

About The Future 100 report:

After another year marked by economic upheaval, polarizing political currents and environmental setbacks, 2026 will be a year for building resilience, courageous creativity and redrawing the boundaries of what’s possible. From the personal to the planetary, from human engineering to geoengineering the climate itself, a new class of creators and collaborators is multiplying potential in ways we are just beginning to imagine.

Helping to shape these worlds are AI tools that democratize world building and new economic models for building empires. As both creativity and AI go global, voices from Buenos Aires to Busan are challenging Western dominance and creating tools that reflect their own cultures.

Amidst this “metamorphic” current, the desire for human connection remains unmistakable. In the year ahead, human impulse will shape brand strategies, influencing the top marketing trends in 2026, and draw people back to immersive, high-impact experiences that demonstrate the value of authenticity and unlock infinite possibilities.

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