MIT Technology Review Unveils Its 2026 List of 10 Breakthrough Technologies
Each year, MIT Technology Review compiles a highly anticipated list of emerging technologies poised to significantly impact society—shaping the future of industry, environment, medicine, and more. The 2026 edition continues this tradition, highlighting innovations that promise to drive progress or provoke important discussions about their potential benefits and risks.
The Curated Breakthroughs for 2026
Informed by months of debate among reporters and editors, the list identifies the most compelling advances that are ready to influence daily life and global systems. This year’s technologies span diverse fields, reflecting the accelerating pace of scientific and technological development worldwide.
Climate Change and Energy Innovations
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Sodium-Ion Batteries: Leveraging abundant and inexpensive materials like salt, sodium-ion batteries offer a safer, cost-effective alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Supported by major industry players and public funding, these batteries are expected to revolutionize energy storage, powering grids and affordable electric vehicles on a global scale.
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Next-Generation Nuclear Power: Building on the success of current nuclear energy, new reactor designs feature alternative fuels, innovative cooling systems, and more compact footprints. These advancements could allow for faster deployment of reactors, supplying reliable, carbon-free electricity while addressing past safety and waste concerns.
Advances in Artificial Intelligence
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Generative Coding: Artificial intelligence tools that assist in writing, testing, and deploying software are transforming programming workflows. These AI systems speed up the creation of complex applications like websites and games. However, users must remain vigilant, as these tools are not infallible.
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AI Companions: AI chatbots have become a staple of everyday interaction for millions. Some users develop strong attachments to these virtual companions, raising questions about psychological impacts and prompting political attention towards their regulation.
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Mechanistic Interpretability: New research techniques are emerging to understand how large language models function internally—a crucial step toward gauging their limitations and improving their reliability.
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Hyperscale AI Data Centers: The race to develop powerful AI accelerators has led to the creation of enormous data centers that function like giant supercomputers. These facilities consume vast amounts of power and represent the cutting edge of AI infrastructure capabilities.
Breakthroughs in Biotechnology
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Base-Edited Babies: With the first personalized gene-editing treatment administered to a baby recently, clinical trials for bespoke gene-editing drugs are on the horizon. While promising, such treatments currently carry significant costs and ethical considerations.
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Gene Resurrection: Leveraging extensive genetic data banks of extinct species, scientists are uncovering potential medical therapies and climate change solutions. Additionally, this research may prove pivotal in conserving endangered species.
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Embryo Scoring: Fertility clinics already use genetic screening to reduce the risk of inherited diseases. Now, new ventures claim to predict complex traits such as intelligence, stirring debate over ethical boundaries and scientific validity.
Space and Beyond
- Commercial Space Stations: The era of space tourism and private research outposts is nearing reality. Newly developed commercial modules will soon host paying customers and facilitate experiments for scientists and space agencies, making the cosmos more accessible.
Additional Technologies Under Consideration
Before finalizing the top 10, MIT Technology Review invited readers to vote on an 11th breakthrough from among candidates such as reasoning models (which improve AI problem-solving), artificial wombs designed to aid premature births, humanoid robots, and uncrewed fighter jets testing automated air combat.
About the List and Editorial Process
MIT Technology Review’s annual “10 Breakthrough Technologies” list is dedicated to spotlighting innovations with the greatest potential impact, whether positive or cautionary. Editors carefully evaluate numerous nominations, selecting technologies based on their transformative prospects and societal relevance.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the list, offering a reflective milestone to assess past predictions. To explore previous editions and analyses on which forecasts succeeded or faltered, readers can access comprehensive archives on the MIT Technology Review website.
Sponsor and Editorial Independence
The 2026 list is sponsored exclusively by Rubrik, a company specializing in security and AI operations designed to support AI transformation. Importantly, Rubrik had no editorial influence over the selection process or content.
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