In early January 2026, reputable outlets Axios and Bloomberg published keynote analytical reviews setting the tone for the tech sector's year. The common leitmotif: 2026 will be a period of rigorous stress testing, where AI companies will be required to demonstrate real financial return on investment (ROI). The era of endless funding based on promises ("hype phase") is officially over. Investors now expect multibillion-dollar infrastructure investments to translate into profit.
Analysts warn of inevitable market consolidation: startups failing to find a sustainable business model will be acquired or go bankrupt. Growing pressure is expected on Google, Microsoft, and Amazon to prove that their AI agents genuinely boost client productivity, rather than just inflating cloud bills. The market is entering the "pragmatic AI" phase, where efficiency trumps the "wow" factor.
Source: Axios / BloombergEconomyROIMarket Trend2026 ForecastBloomberg
