Hundreds of billions of dollars spent on investments, rising mental health concerns and thousands of lost jobs, and the common thread to it all was artificial intelligence. Although AI has existed in the background of modern technologies for decades, the arrival of ChatGPT in 2022 has put it at the center of events. Chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini have gradually changed the way millions of people use the Internet every day, from the AI Mode feature in Google Search to the built-in assistants on Instagram and other Internet services.
The year 2025 was also the moment when AI crossed the boundaries of the screen and began to influence national politics, global trade relations and the stock market. Serious dilemmas are also open about whether this technology should be trusted in the work environment, schools and interpersonal relationships.
Predictions show that all this will continue in 2026. Experts point out that last year marked the transition from fascination to application with real consequences, which includes both benefits and risks.
US President Donald Trump has been among the biggest supporters of AI technologies, using them as a pillar of his second presidential administration. Nvidia’s CEO became part of his inner circle of advisers, while Nvidia and AMD served as key elements in trade negotiations with China. Trump presented an action plan for artificial intelligence in which he wants to reduce regulation and expand the state’s application of AI solutions. Executive orders followed, including a controversial attempt to bar states from imposing their own AI rules, drawing sharp backlash from internet security experts.
What marked the year in which AI became a global tipping point
ShutterstockA series of reports and lawsuits over the year highlighted the darker side of AI assistants, especially among young people. Cases of mental health deterioration and even tragic outcomes have been reported. The most famous example occurred when the parents of sixteen-year-old Adam Rein sued OpenAI, claiming that the chatbot gave answers that further endangered their son. The company has since rolled out teen content controls and more widely available safety features, and Character.AI has limited two-way conversations for younger users. Meta plans to introduce the ability to block AI characters on Instagram for minors during 2026.
Experts warn that the problems are not limited to teenagers as more and more adults report that they have become emotionally distant from their surroundings, relying on AI as a source of support. According to experts, chatbots can contribute to confusion, delusions and misperception of reality.
At the same time, investments in AI infrastructure have exploded. Meta, Microsoft, Amazon and others have spent tens of billions of dollars in building new data centers, while McKinsey’s forecasts speak of nearly seven trillion dollars in global investment by 2030. This has increased concerns about the price of electricity, the impact on jobs and the possible formation of an AI bubble. Investors are increasingly demanding answers about the profitability of future investments.
Large numbers of tech workers have lost their jobs, and a wave of layoffs has hit Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and other companies that are optimizing their business with AI automation. Amazon has laid off 14,000 employees, while Meta has cut teams within its AI division.
Experts agree that the most significant change in 2026 will be a change in the structure of skills that the market is looking for. Demand for knowledge about AI tools and processes is skyrocketing, and jobs are changing at a faster rate than ever before.
Everything points to the same message: artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty, it is becoming the driving force of global trends, and what follows will be even more intense, concludes CNN.