The trends rewiring tech, media and discovery

Technology, media, and telecommunications will enter 2026 with new momentum that reshapes how people connect, communicate, and consume information. Deloitte's latest Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) predictions highlight a landscape where AI, content formats, infrastructure and policies all collide. These forces influence the broader media ecosystem and shape executive decision making in a market that grows more interconnected each year.

AI moves into the center of the tech and media stack

AI is focal to Deloitte's 2026 outlook because it drives nearly every major trend in technology, media, and telecommunications. More than half of the predictions in the report link directly to AI. This level of influence matters because TMT now contributes close to 50% of global market capitalization. When a sector of this scale leans into AI, the impact moves quickly into media production, distribution, and monetization. As AI expands, expectations for accuracy, quality control and accountability grow right along with it.

Search integrates AI summaries and changes discovery

The report predicts a continued shift in discovery behavior. Deloitte estimates that daily use of search engines with integrated AI summaries will reach 29% in 2026, while standalone AI chat tools will reach about 10%. This divide shows that audiences adopt AI most quickly inside familiar interfaces, not through separate apps or standalone services.

Embedded summaries reshape the top of the discovery funnel. Search results present short explanations, bullet points, and synthesized information before users click deeper. This pattern affects publishers because audiences may not feel the need to explore full articles. This shift creates more pressure on publishers to show clear and immediate value beyond the short explanation that AI generates.

Computing demand rises and infrastructure strains

AI demands will increase. Deloitte estimates that AI inference workloads, the work that occurs after a model is trained, will make up roughly two thirds of total AI computing in 2026. The report expects global spending on AI chips to surpass $50 billion, with supply concentrated among a few manufacturers. Data centers will face tighter energy and cooling constraints as demand grows. Cloud providers will respond with price increases that reflect limited capacity.

Media organizations that rely on cloud-based video processing, encoding, personalization, or moderation feel this pressure directly. A single high volume content initiative might require thousands of GPU hours. If capacity is tight, production timelines stretch and costs rise. Infrastructure moves from a back-end detail to a strategic factor that shapes product development and creative planning.

Content formats shift toward shorter and more visual experiences

Deloitte forecasts continued momentum in micro series, which often take the form of short dramas or social videos optimized for vertical screens. Revenue for micro series will reach an estimated $7.8 billion in 2026, which reflects growth of more than 100% over two years. These formats attract younger viewers who prefer snackable content and rapid storytelling loops.

Generative video is part of the picture as well. AI tools create scenes, characters, and transitions at high speed. This supports experimentation but raises questions about authenticity, provenance, and brand trust. Regulators consider labeling requirements for AI-generated assets, while platforms explore detection tools. Media companies evaluate how to blend human and AI production in ways that keep audience expectations clear.

Podcasts also shift toward video. The report notes that more than 60% of new podcasts now launch with video as a primary element. Vodcast advertising will approach $5 billion worldwide in 2026, an increase of almost 20% year over year.

Navigating hidden tradeoffs in a complex environment

The 2026 predictions reveal a landscape shaped by intertwined challenges rather than a single disruptive event. AI drives innovation, yet it also drives costs, regulatory complexity, and infrastructure strain. New content formats attract audiences, yet they also challenge legacy production economics. Cloud systems grow more intelligent, yet they adopt billing models that complicate financial planning. Digital sovereignty promotes resilience, yet it restricts global reach.

For media executives, these concerns point to a year defined by structural tension. Every opportunity arrives with a corresponding constraint. Every technological advance creates new expectations around cloud storage availability, content authenticity, and financial transparency. Companies that understand how these forces interact gain a clearer view of the risks and realities that define the year ahead.