The world is entering the age of paradoxes: humanoid robots at $20,000, the AI bubble is bursting, gold is reaching record highs, and the war in Ukraine continues, according to the Financial Times, which published its traditional predictions for 2026 on Wednesday, December 31.
President Volodymyr Zelensky will not accept the ceding of the Donbas region, and the creation of a demilitarized zone, not controlled by either side, is considered unlikely. The Financial Times estimates that only a highly unlikely military collapse could force Ukraine to capitulate, according to the British publication.
On the economic front, the overall level of US tariffs will not increase until the end of 2026, even in the event of a Donald Trump administration.
The Supreme Court could impose the tariff change, and Republicans would lose the midterm elections, with Democrats regaining their majority in the House of Representatives.
The Financial Times notes that a third impeachment trial is not out of the question, but impeachment remains unlikely.
In France, there will be no early presidential elections, and in Germany, the isolation of the far-right party AfD will continue. In the United Kingdom, the Labor Party could record a poor result in the May election, which would jeopardize the position of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Chinese yuan will not see significant appreciation, and Japan will remain an outlier in global monetary policy with high interest rates.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call a general election in the spring to consolidate her position. In Latin America, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is forecast to win a fourth term.
Central banks, with the exception of Japan, will continue to cut interest rates, and complex bankruptcies among private companies are expected. The price of gold could exceed $5,000 an ounce, reflecting geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Artificial intelligence and the technology of the future
The Financial Times predicts that the AI bubble will burst, with a 10-15% decline in tech markets. Big companies will survive, but speculative enthusiasm will temper.
At the same time, humanoid robots for home use will start to appear, but they will be accessible only to the very rich – the first model, Neo, has a price of 20,000 dollars and deliveries are promised in 2026.
At the same time, commercially viable quantum computers are yet to emerge, although governments warn of risks to data security.
Tesla won’t be able to stop the decline in market share in the US, EU and China, and other major technological changes will continue to shape the auto industry.
According to the cited source, Africa could see slightly higher economic growth than Asia, with half of the 20 fastest growing economies to be African. In sports, earnings will continue to rise, but no female professional athlete will break into the top 50 highest paid athletes in the world.
The Financial Times forecasts for 2026 thus paint a picture of a rapidly changing world: frozen conflicts, emerging technology and global economic tensions, but also opportunities for states and companies ready to take advantage of the new realities.
