For years, tech leaders and industry analysts have touted a future where artificial intelligence (AI) takes over. Flying cars. Robot butlers. Schools without classrooms.
But, Amazon.com Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) technology chief, Dr Werner Vogels says we’ve got it backwards. In the coming year, he predicts we'll enter a new era where AI fits into the human loop, not the other way around.
Here are his top tech predictions for 2026, and what they really mean for everyday people.
Robots Will Keep Us Company
In a blog post on Tuesday, Vogels said AI-driven companion robots will play a growing role in addressing global loneliness, particularly among elderly people.
He pointed to clinical studies showing that robots such as Paro and Pepper reduce agitation, depression and loneliness in dementia patients, while Amazon’s own Astro has shown “non-transactional relationships” forming in households.
“People treat robots more like animals than devices,” he noted, arguing that mobility, expressive interfaces, and proactive behaviour make them feel present in ways traditional devices cannot.
Next Era Demands Renaissance Developers
Vogels argued that generative AI will not replace developers but expand the profession, comparing the phenomenon to past shifts brought by compilers and cloud computing.
“Lowering the barrier for entry doesn't eliminate the need for human expertise, it amplifies it,” he wrote.
While AI can generate code quickly, it cannot interpret business trade-offs, navigate organizational constraints, or understand the unspoken priorities behind technical decisions.
Vogels said the next era will demand “renaissance developers” who pair technical skill with systems thinking, communication, and domain knowledge. In this model, developers remain central.
Encryption Risks Rise As Quantum Computing Grows
Rapid advances in quantum computing have reduced the time organisations have to secure their data, Vogels warned.
Improvements in error correction, from Amazon’s cloud service AWS’s Ocelot chip to Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Willow and IBM’s (NYSE:IBM) 2029 roadmap, mean encrypted information harvested today could be decrypted within years.
“Preparation isn't something you can put off,” he wrote, urging companies to deploy post-quantum cryptography, plan for hardware upgrades, and build quantum-ready talent.
Major tech firms have already adopted NIST-aligned standards such as ML-KEM across operating systems, browsers, and cloud services. But Vogels stressed that upgrading millions of physical devices will be the hardest challenge.
Military Innovation Moves To Civilians Faster Than Ever
Vogels noted that defense technology is now moving into civilian life far faster than in past decades, driven by startup-style defense companies and real-time innovation in conflict zones.
Unlike earlier military inventions that took 10 to 20 years to become mainstream, today’s systems are designed as dual-use from the start. Weekly software updates, rapid AI learning cycles, and battlefield-tested autonomous tools are already informing emergency response, infrastructure management, agriculture, and healthcare.
He argues that organisations should prepare for defense-driven capabilities to reach civilian markets “within the next two years,” calling the shift a fundamental break from traditional timelines.
AI Tutoring To Scale Personalised Learning Globally
Finally, Vogels predicted that AI is set to deliver personalised tutoring at a scale previously impossible, adapting explanations, pacing, and content to each student.
He pointed to rapid global adoption: Khan Academy's AI tutor reached 1.4 million users in its first year, Iceland launched a nationwide pilot with Anthropic, and usage among UK students has climbed to 92%.
Emerging markets are scaling fast through platforms like Physics Wallah and UNESCO’s CogLabs. While emphasising that “teachers are not going away,” Vogels argued that AI will automate routine tasks, ease teacher shortages, and free educators to focus on creativity and individual support.
He predicts AI tutoring will be ubiquitous by 2026.
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