Equity's 2026 Forecast: Blockbuster IPOs, AI Agents, and VC's Future

TechCrunch Shares Tech Predictions for 2026

TechCrunch’s Equity podcast team has released its predictions for 2026 as 2025 comes to an end.

The team said AI funding remained strong in 2025, despite market concerns. They noted that AI agents did not meet expectations, but are likely to improve next year.

The podcast also discussed the rise of physical AI, tighter AI regulations, and growing pushback from Hollywood against AI-generated content. Venture capital firms may face challenges due to fewer IPOs.

Looking ahead, the hosts believe world models could become the next big development in AI. They also predicted that more companies will call themselves “AI native,” and simple mobile phones may make a comeback