low confidence predictions for 2026

Atharva Raykar

20 Dec 2025 — 1 min read

Unprincipled predictions for 2026 based on vibes. I'm no superforecaster.

Lots of it ended up being about AI because that's the big meta right now.

AI and technology

more technology is going to be draped in "organic, homegrown farm-to-cup" aesthetics
this is in reaction to a growing anti-AI sentiment
- new slurs for AI other than "clankers" will be invented
- there will be an incident of an AI model going off the rails or behaving in a misaligned way to people who call it clanker
there will be a popular internet forum for people to discuss AI without resorting to slop, hype or unproductive anger.
someone is going to lose their savings because they used an AI browser.

bangalore / india

more tech people in bangalore will be heavily investing in nootropics. it will become mainstream (within tech circles).
it will be common for lots of people above the age of 30 to talk to and have AI companions. some will flaunt it. more psychosis in this age group, followed by some psychosis in teens.
there will be two more specialist "third spaces" opening up in bangalore.
basaveshwara khanawali cuisine is going to get gentrified hard in bangalore.

culture

there will be a measured and publicly discussed inequality between happy and sad people. happy people will get happier and sad people will get sadder.
there will be a very happy subgroup of people who are meeting in person because it's hard to slop irl.

published at gunpoint 🔫 in indiewebclub blr. (i pointed the gun at myself)

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