Four Technologies That Missed MIT Technology Review’s 2026 Breakthroughs List
By Amy Nordrum, December 8, 2025
Each year, MIT Technology Review curates a list of ten technological breakthroughs it believes will have significant impact on the future. The selection process involves intense discussions and evaluations of numerous candidate technologies, focusing on their potential for broad influence, originality, and the likelihood of long-term success. While the official 2026 breakthroughs list is set to be published on January 12, 2026, the Review has shared insights into four promising technologies that, despite careful consideration, did not make the cut this year.
1. Male Contraceptives: Progress, But Patience Needed
Male contraceptive options have traditionally been limited to condoms and vasectomies, but exciting new developments are underway. Companies like Contraline are conducting clinical trials on two novel treatments: a daily transdermal gel applied to the shoulder or upper arm that suppresses sperm production, and a device designed to physically block sperm during ejaculation. Contraline’s CEO, Kevin Eisenfrats, gained recognition on the Innovators Under 35 list for steering these advancements. Meanwhile, YourChoice Therapeutics is testing a once-daily oral pill in early-stage trials.
While these innovations signal meaningful progress toward expanding male contraceptive choices, widespread availability remains years away pending successful clinical testing. For now, the technology has promising potential but has yet to cross the breakthrough threshold for 2026. —
2. World Models: AI’s Emerging Virtual Environments
World models represent a cutting-edge AI approach that constructs 3D virtual worlds from input data such as videos or spatial information. These models aim to capture the physical laws of reality—like gravity—in virtual environments. Potential applications include revolutionizing game design and enhancing robotic understanding of the physical world.
The concept is gaining momentum with leading AI figures such as Yann LeCun and Fei-Fei Li launching startups focused on world model development. Fei-Fei Li’s company, World Labs, released an initial version of their model recently, and Google’s highly publicized Genie 3 world model debuted earlier this year.
Despite increasing interest, definitional ambiguity and early developmental stages made the Review cautious about naming world models a breakthrough for 2026. However, this technology is definitely one to watch as it continues to evolve.
3. Proof of Personhood: Authenticating Humanity in a Digital Age
As AI-generated content and autonomous agents proliferate online, verifying the authenticity of human users has become increasingly challenging. Digital “personhood credentials” promise to confirm whether an online participant is a real person, addressing issues like identity theft, fraud, and misinformation.
Efforts by OpenAI, Microsoft, Harvard, and MIT have explored cryptographic tokens issued upon in-person identity verification, which users would then use to prove their humanity during sensitive online interactions, such as banking. Simultaneously, startups like Tools for Humanity, founded by Sam Altman, are experimenting with biometric-inspired systems such as World ID to fulfill this need.
Consensus in the technology community suggests that some form of personhood verification will be essential for the future internet. However, competing proposals and ongoing development mean no universal standard has yet emerged — leading to the Review’s decision to withhold breakthrough recognition until greater adoption occurs.
4. The World’s Oldest Baby: Advances in Embryo Adoption and IVF
In a remarkable event this year, an infant was born from an embryo frozen for over 30 years, setting a new record for embryo longevity. This achievement was highlighted by senior reporter Jessica Hamzelou and underscores advances in embryo thawing techniques used in IVF, as well as evolving social norms around embryo adoption.
Increasingly, embryo adoption agencies connect donors with prospective parents willing to use decades-old embryos, which could help address the millions of leftover frozen embryos stored worldwide.
While culturally and medically significant, this development was driven more by shifting societal attitudes than groundbreaking technology. Therefore, it did not qualify as a 2026 breakthrough despite its impressive nature.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 breakthroughs list will be unveiled on January 12, 2026, reflecting the Review’s considered judgments on technologies poised to shape the coming years. The four technologies detailed here—male contraceptives, world models, proof of personhood, and the oldest baby—offer glimpses into innovations gaining traction but require further maturation or wider impact before earning breakthrough status.
MIT Technology Review remains committed to tracking these and other emerging technologies as they develop, providing readers with insights into the future landscape of science and innovation.
For ongoing coverage and updates, visit MIT Technology Review.
