Forrester’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies For 2026: Beyond Chat

2026-04-15 · Source: Featured Blogs - Forrester · Field: Technology & Digital — Emerging Technologies & Innovation, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Robotics & Autonomous Systems · Depth: Intermediate, short

Summary

Forrester's 2026 top 10 emerging technologies list highlights AI's expansion from digital interfaces into the physical world, categorizing these advancements into "Interact," "Build," and "Fuel" layers. "Interact" technologies include layer zero experiences, physical AI and robotics, autonomous transportation, and agentic commerce, representing direct human interaction. "Build" technologies, such as agentic software development and multi-agent systems, provide tools for innovation, while "Fuel" technologies like frontier models and quantum computing power these advancements. Key technologies discussed include layer zero experiences, which create an AI-driven intelligence layer above traditional apps, and physical AI, embedding AI in machines for real-world perception and action, showing 20-50% efficiency gains in early deployments. Multi-agent systems are introduced as scalable networks of specialized agents, and quantum computing is noted for nearing practicality and the associated "Q-day" risk by 2030.

Key takeaway

For CTOs and executives evaluating strategic technology investments, prioritize initiatives that integrate AI beyond traditional applications, focusing on physical AI and multi-agent systems for operational efficiency. You should also begin assessing your organization's readiness for quantum computing's "Q-day" by 2030, particularly regarding encryption vulnerabilities, even as commercial upsides remain nascent.

Key insights

AI is transitioning from digital-only to physical and ambient experiences, driven by new interaction, build, and fuel technologies.

Principles

• AI will increasingly operate invisibly across digital services.
• Physical AI systems adapt, rather than follow, scripts.
• Multi-agent systems enable scalable, complex AI workflows.

In practice

• Explore OpenAI's Apps SDK or Google's A2UI for layer zero concepts.
• Pilot physical AI for dirty, dangerous, or dull tasks.
• Begin planning for quantum computing's "Q-day" by 2030.

Topics

• Forrester Emerging Technologies
• Physical AI
• Layer Zero Experiences
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Quantum Computing

Best for: CTO, Executive, AI Architect, Director of AI/ML, VP of Engineering/Data, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Featured Blogs - Forrester.