Mostly Technical
113: 2026 Predictions
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- 2026 will see advancements in humanoid robots, but their practical uses in homes remain uncertain.
- As AI evolves, software development roles will shift from coding to managing AI tools and coordinating projects.
- AI will not necessarily eliminate jobs; rather, it may create opportunities for more developers to manage and leverage the technology.
- The educational landscape will become more specialized, focusing on practical applications and human insights rather than generalized tutorials.
- Personal stories and experiences continue to play a vital role in learning, even with the rise of AI technologies.
Summary
No Rest For The Weary
Ian and Aaron kick off the podcast with discussions about their hectic schedules during the holiday season. Despite their fatigue, they promise their listeners a chaotic but fun episode filled with predictions for 2026.
Humanoid Robots and AI Predictions
The hosts delve into predictions about technological advancements, particularly the rise of humanoid robots and the role of AI by 2026. They agree that consumer deliveries of humanoid robots will become a reality but question their usefulness in everyday life.
The Future of Software Development
Ian and Aaron discuss how they envision software development evolving. They predict that software developers will transition into higher-level roles involving managing AI agents instead of focusing solely on coding.
The Economic Impact of AI on Employment
The duo reflects on concerns regarding AI replacing jobs and discusses how AI could increase developer productivity in ways that actually necessitate more developers rather than fewer.
GPTs and the Learning Experience
They ponder over the educational landscape and the effect of AI on traditional learning methods, suggesting that while generalized tutorials may fade, specialized knowledge sharing will remain valuable.
AI in Business and Society
The conversation touches on how AI is set to entwine itself in various sectors. The hosts debate whether companies will fully shift to AI-driven solutions or continue to prefer proprietary, human-led workflows. They express optimism about AI's usefulness.
End of Year Reflections and Holiday Gifts
In a lighter vein, Ian and Aaron share their personal anecdotes about holiday gifts, including discussions on stylish sneakers, reflecting on personal styles and how fashion interacts with their tech-filled lives.
Sponsors
- Bento · the email marketing and CRM platform teams actually love
- Flare · the all-in-one error tracking and performance monitoring for your laravel application
- Ittybit · media APIs for developers, convert, compress, and extract intelligence data from your video, audio, and image files with just a few lines of code.
- tldraw · the world's first, best, and only SDK for building infinite canvas applications in React.
- OG Kit · dynamic, open graph images to your website using HTML and CSS.
- Tighten · they build and rescue web apps and dev teams.
- Nusii · proposal software built for developer agencies and high-end SaaS sales.
Show notes
Ian and Aaron are answering your questions about what's coming in 2026, covering everything from AI shrinking dev teams to Elon becoming a trillionaire and so much more.
Sponsored by Bento, Flare, Ittybit, tldraw, OG Kit, Tighten, and Nusii
Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical? Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.
- (00:00) - No Rest For The Weary
- (03:39) - Manager of Agents
- (14:44) - Predictions!
- (30:57) - Ian's Personal Productivity System
- (40:17) - More Predictions!
- (58:02) - Vibe Code vs. Buying
- (01:03:17) - Even More Predictions!
- (01:17:15) - Christmas Presents
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