On January 12, 2026, MIT Technology Review released its 25th annual list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies, a curated selection of emerging innovations poised to reshape society, economies, and the planet in the coming years.
This year’s edition stands out for its mix of grounded engineering progress and ambitious (some say overhyped) visions, while the editorial tone remains measured but frequently cautious — often highlighting risks, ethical dilemmas, and practical hurdles rather than unbridled optimism.
The 2026 List at a Glance
Here are the ten technologies, drawn directly from the publication:
1. Sodium-ion batteries
Cheaper and safer than lithium-ion thanks to abundant raw materials (salt instead of scarce lithium and cobalt), sodium-ion batteries are gaining traction for grid storage and affordable electric vehicles. Major Chinese manufacturers like CATL and BYD have already begun large-scale production, with deployments in scooters and pilot grid projects. The breakthrough lies in scaling a technology that could dramatically reduce battery costs and geopolitical dependencies.
2. Generative coding
AI coding assistants (Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Devin, etc.) now write, test, and deploy sophisticated software at unprecedented speed. Companies report that AI generates 25–30% of new code at Meta, Google, and Microsoft. The caveat: outputs still require careful human review to avoid bugs, security flaws, or hallucinations.
3. Next-generation nuclear reactors
Advanced designs using alternative fuels (molten salt, TRISO particles), passive cooling, and smaller modular formats promise safer, cheaper, and faster deployment. China leads in sodium-cooled fast reactors, while U.S. startups like Kairos Power received construction approval for molten-salt prototypes in 2024–2025. These reactors could provide carbon-free baseload power to meet surging electricity demand from EVs, data centers, and electrification.
4. AI companions
Millions form emotional bonds with chatbots that simulate friendship, romance, or therapy. Growing evidence shows psychological risks, including dependency and isolation. Regulators in several countries are beginning to respond with proposed safeguards and age restrictions.
5. Base-edited baby
In 2025, seven-month-old KJ became the first recipient of personalized base-editing gene therapy for a rare metabolic disorder. Clinical trials are expanding, and bespoke gene-editing treatments could receive regulatory approval within a few years, opening the door to curing hundreds of genetic conditions in infancy.
6. Gene resurrection
Massive genomic databases of extinct species (mammoths, passenger pigeons, etc.) are being assembled to guide de-extinction efforts, conservation strategies for endangered animals, and even climate-resilient crops. While full mammoth revival remains distant, the data is already yielding insights into ancient adaptations.
7. Mechanistic interpretability
Researchers are finally peeling back the black box of large language models, identifying specific circuits responsible for behaviors like deception or factual recall. Progress in “mechanistic interpretability” offers the first real hope of understanding—and eventually controlling—how frontier AI systems reason internally.
8. Commercial space stations
Private orbital habitats (Axiom, Vast, Starlab) are transitioning from concept to hardware, with crewed missions and paying customers expected in 2026–2027. These stations will support microgravity research, space tourism, and eventual manufacturing, marking the shift from government-led to commercial low-Earth-orbit infrastructure.
9. Embryo scoring
Preimplantation genetic testing now goes beyond screening for single-gene disorders. Startups offer polygenic risk scores to predict traits like height, cognitive ability, and disease susceptibility — raising profound ethical questions about “designer babies” and inequality.
10. Hyperscale AI data centers
The AI boom has driven construction of gigawatt-scale facilities that consume city-level electricity and generate immense heat. Over half of power still comes from fossil fuels despite renewable pledges; some tech giants are turning to nuclear deals to meet demand. These “AI factories” represent both the pinnacle of computing scale and a massive new strain on global energy systems.
Category Breakdown and Notable Omissions
The distribution is telling:
- AI-related — 4 entries (generative coding, AI companions, mechanistic interpretability, hyperscale data centers);
- Biotechnology / gene editing — 3 entries (base-edited baby, gene resurrection, embryo scoring);
- Energy — 2 entries (sodium-ion batteries, next-gen nuclear);
- Space — 1 entry (commercial space stations).
Striking absences include:
- Quantum computing (still in the “noisy intermediate-scale” phase with limited practical advantage)
- Brain-computer interfaces (Neuralink progress is real but not yet transformative outside medical niches)
- Fusion energy (ITER delays and private timelines remain too uncertain for 2026)
- Advanced robotics / humanoid robots (impressive demos, but mass deployment lags)
- Climate geoengineering or direct-air carbon capture at scale (high uncertainty and controversy)
These omissions suggest editors prioritized technologies with clearer near-term deployment paths or those already attracting billions in investment, while sidelining fields still wrestling with fundamental scientific or engineering barriers.
Tone and Editorial Stance
The overall voice is far from triumphalist. Phrases like “just be sure to double-check what they come up with” (generative coding), “mounting evidence that this can be dangerous” (AI companions), and “pushing infrastructure to its limits” (hyperscale data centers) reflect caution. Even optimistic entries — sodium-ion batteries, next-gen nuclear — come with caveats about scaling challenges and timelines. The embryo scoring and gene resurrection pieces lean particularly skeptical, questioning societal implications and scientific overreach.
Also read:
- The AI Coding Surge: Redefining Productivity, Organizations, and the Future of Work
- Empowering the Individual: AI Agents Revolutionize System Building in Corporate and Personal Spheres
- The Agentic Revolution: Reshaping Management and Organizations in the AI Age
Final Thoughts
MIT Technology Review’s 2026 list captures a moment when several long-gestating fields are reaching commercial or clinical inflection points, while AI’s dominance continues to reshape energy, labor, and even human reproduction. The inclusion of four AI entries and three gene-editing breakthroughs underscores the dual engines driving today’s innovation: massive computational scale and biological programmability. Yet the cautious tone reminds us that breakthrough does not automatically mean benefit — many of these technologies will force difficult trade-offs between progress, equity, safety, and planetary boundaries.
As voting opens for the 11th spot (until April 1, 2026), the list already serves as both a forecast and a warning: the future is arriving faster than ever, and not all of it will be gentle.
