Pictet’s Ahead 2026 report highlights the most prominent trends in science, technology, and sustainability that will shape economic growth and investment.

1) Health in the era of longevity

The world’s population is getting older so the challenge is to ensure that those extra years are spent in good health – research shows that proactive prevention could give US citizens 15 more healthy years of life*. As the oldest baby boomers turn 80, governments, healthcare companies, and individuals will focus more on preventative healthcare. This will drive the increased use of data and AI to predict disease vulnerability; improve screening programmes for prevalent diseases; tackle risk factors such as obesity and smoking; and speed up drug discovery and diagnosis.

2) Powering productivity with AI

Ageing populations are increasing productivity pressures and labour shortages, and technology will be pivotal in filling the gap. Agentic AI** will enable the replacement ‘workers’ to independently set goals and execute tasks without human intervention. AI code assistants, for example, have made corporate software developers 20-40% more productive, and gains will be seen across a range of global sectors.

3) Rise of the robots

Generative AI has changed how robots interact with their environment, particularly in consumer settings, while other advances are shortening the research and development cycle for robotics and automation. In 2026, 619,000 industrial robots are expected to be installed worldwide, up from 575,000 the previous year***. Collaborative and humanoid robot use will grow in closed work environments, such as car factories and data centres (where they do not mind the heat and do not need light), and in autonomous vehicles. Several new autonomous vehicle models will launch this year and robotaxis will debut in London.

4) Clean eating

Consumers are looking for healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. Many are changing their approach to food, going “back to basics” and prioritising natural and local ingredients, while grassroots movements like Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) are rejecting ultra-processed foods. The public sector is increasingly proactive through regulations on allowed ingredients, food labelling and advertising. Greater use of weight loss drugs, such as GLP-1, is also playing a crucial role in modifying food purchasing behaviour.

5) Road to resilience

Frequent extreme weather events are forcing governments to prioritise resilient infrastructure, disaster preparedness and sustainable adaptation strategies. As the impact of climate change increases, investing in adaptation – such as installing stormwater pump stations; retrofitting existing buildings with cooling technologies; or adopting early flood and wildfire warning systems – are as important as the measures mitigating global temperature rises.

6) Power storage

Advancements in clean energy continue and renewable power sources constitute an increasing share of the global energy mix, but the intermittence of some renewable sources is problematic. We are pleased to see progress in the development of energy storage systems (ESS) to make up for periods of low production. Innovations include extending the storage duration for lithium-ion batteries from six to eight hours, as well as the development of hydrogen-based storage solutions.

7) Machine-to-machine security

The main AI security risks come from increased personal and professional data being shared the more we use AI, which means even greater measures are required to keep that information safe. In addition, the prospect of machines hacking other machines is a growing area of concern in data protection. All this presents a big challenge for the cybersecurity industry – but also a big opportunity for security companies that can harness AI’s power to protect organisations and consumers. With a hacker infiltration every 39 seconds and an estimated 3.8 million records stolen through breaches every day, global spending on cyber security is forecast to grow by nearly 14% a year****.

“Investing in evolving technologies can be rewarding, but it is also risky, and distinguishing winners from losers is not straight forward. At Pictet our approach is to tune out the noise of short-term cycles and focus on the trends impacting long-term investment opportunities.”

Steve Freedman, Head of Research and Sustainability, Thematic Equities, Pictet Asset Management

* https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/proactive-care-medicare-savings.html ** Agents that can interact autonomously to achieve their objectives
*** World Robotics
**** https://www.fortinet.com/uk/resources/cyberglossary/cybersecurity-statistics