Technology Trends 2026 report: Mind-controlled robotic limbs and zettabyte-scale data growth

DNA’s technology trend report, published today for the ninth time, highlights the emerging key factors shaping the technology sector. The report illustrates how quickly artificial intelligence is being integrated into every technological domain: the most interesting rising technology trends are all AI-driven.

“AI is no longer a separate technological subcategory but a framework and a tool that shapes all development. It plays a part in every emerging technology, and Finnish companies need to take note of this fact. We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the possibilities of AI – if even that,” summarises Anna-Mari Ylihurula, Senior Vice President, Corporate Business at DNA.

Communication powered by thought – do we need words anymore?

Systems that interpret brain impulses form a direct communication channel between the human brain and machines. Interfaces convert neural activity and commands into machine-readable form. Impulse analysis is being accelerated with AI, which in turn is enabling rapid advancement in the field.

This fast-evolving technology is revolutionising fields such as neurology. For example, it can be used to help paralysed patients regain the ability to speak or move with a mind-controlled robotic limb.

According to the report, systems capable of interpreting the brain’s electrical signals may enable entirely new modes of communication in the future.

“The pace of development shows that we are no longer far from a future in which we can quite literally communicate through thought,” says Ylihurula.

Data volumes reach the zettabyte era – can our infrastructure keep up?

The global volume of digital information surpassed one zettabyte – one trillion gigabytes – in 2012. In recent years, data volumes have grown at an annual rate of 20–25 percent, and have now exceeded 175 zettabytes. Fields such as genetic research, AI, cloud services, cryptocurrencies, and quantum computing are evolving so rapidly that this growth is expected to keep accelerating. Growing data consumption also poses challenges for ecological sustainability.

These developments place massive demands on digital infrastructure and data transfer capacity.

“In Finland, we must plan well in advance how to ensure stable, reliable and sufficient storage and transfer capacity, even when data volumes and traffic multiply from current levels. Data centers and connectivity form the backbone of modern society, affecting both the operational environment of Finnish companies and the everyday lives of all citizens,” Ylihurula notes.

The need for proactive cybersecurity and a renewal of the work ecosystem

Technological progress has been one of the most significant drivers of productivity for decades. The report highlights developments that force Finnish companies and individuals to reconsider the fundamentals of work and business from entirely new perspectives.

Cyberthreats are growing and diversifying. The risk of ransomware attacks is higher than ever, with potential financial impacts measured in billions. Machine identities such as IoT devices, robots, and AI agents may significantly outnumber human users in systems, placing them front and center on the next major digital battlefront. New protection mechanisms are also needed for managing biometric data.

Meanwhile, the concept of “superagency” is emerging – human capabilities augmented via AI. This requires a complete restructuring of the work ecosystem: roles, tools, and processes must be totally redefined.

“Companies must strive for proactive information security and cyber-resilience. They must also be able to shift their operations into new, AI-augmented modes. Real value is created only after AI experimentation transforms into scalable solutions cultivating growth. This is not only challenging, but also tremendously exciting,” Ylihurula says.

DNA’s technology trend reports have often proven accurate in their predictions. For example, in 2022, the report anticipated the breakthrough of artificial intelligence – and less than a year later, OpenAI launched ChatGPT. The rise of digital twins, predicted in 2019, also materialized with remarkable precision – the report providing details on what is now considered one of the key strategic technologies in the modern industrial era.

Explore the full Technology trends 2026 report (in Finnish).

 Further information for media:

 Anna-Mari Ylihurula, SVP, Corporate Business, DNA Plc, tel. +358 (0)44 044 7755, anna-mari.ylihurula@dna.fi

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 (0)44 044 8000, communications@dna.fi