As artificial intelligence reshapes nearly every corner of the global economy, investors are searching for clarity on what comes next. Few voices on Wall Street are as consistently bullish—or as closely followed—as Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. Known for his outspoken optimism on technology, Ives believes the AI-driven transformation is far from over and that 2026 could mark another defining year for the sector.
According to Ives, the market is standing at a crossroads. On one side is a historic technological shift that rivals past industrial revolutions. On the other is growing investor anxiety over the massive capital required to bring enterprise and consumer AI fully to life. His latest tech and AI predictions 2026 attempt to cut through that tension by identifying where real momentum is likely to emerge.
A Fourth Industrial Revolution Is Accelerating
Ives frames the current environment as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. He argues that the United States is asserting technological leadership in a way it hasn’t done for decades, particularly in AI, cloud computing, and automation.
At the same time, the sheer scale of investment needed—measured in trillions of dollars—has created skepticism among some investors. Infrastructure spending, data center expansion, and AI training costs are enormous, and not every company will emerge a winner.
Still, Ives believes the long-term trajectory remains firmly upward. His tech and AI predictions 2026 reflect confidence that innovation will ultimately outweigh near-term concerns.
Tesla Pushes Robotaxis Into Dozens of Cities
Unsurprisingly, Tesla sits at the center of Ives’ outlook. Despite the stock already hitting record highs, he sees significant upside ahead driven by autonomy.
Ives predicts that Tesla will successfully launch robotaxi services in more than 30 cities in 2026, while ramping up volume production of its purpose-built Cybercab. In his view, this expansion represents the moment when Tesla’s AI narrative becomes operational rather than theoretical.
Skeptics continue to question whether Tesla can outpace competitors in autonomous driving, but Ives remains convinced the company’s data advantage and software-first approach will prevail. His base-case forecast sees meaningful upside in Tesla shares, with even larger gains possible if execution exceeds expectations.
Within tech and AI predictions 2026, Tesla stands as a flagship example of AI moving from promise to deployment.
Oracle’s AI Data Center Strategy Gains Traction
Oracle has faced recent criticism following a muted earnings report that raised doubts about its aggressive AI spending. However, Ives believes the market is underestimating the company’s positioning in the next phase of AI infrastructure.
He expects Oracle to make significant progress in building out its data center footprint, converting its large AI-related backlog into recurring revenue. In his view, the current negative sentiment around the stock could reverse sharply as execution improves.
Ives forecasts a strong rebound in Oracle shares by 2026, arguing that enterprise demand for AI workloads will reward companies capable of scaling reliably. This outlook reinforces a broader theme in tech and AI predictions 2026: infrastructure players may quietly outperform once demand fully materializes.
Apple and Google Form a Strategic AI Alliance
One of the more surprising calls in Ives’ outlook involves a potential partnership between Apple and Google. He predicts that the two tech giants will announce a formal AI collaboration centered around Google’s Gemini platform.
Such a partnership, according to Ives, would allow Apple to accelerate its AI roadmap while preserving its ecosystem-first approach. He envisions the result as a subscription-based AI service integrated across Apple devices.
If realized, this alliance could redefine competition in consumer AI and significantly boost Apple’s valuation. Within tech and AI predictions 2026, it represents a shift toward collaboration rather than outright rivalry among tech titans.
Nebius Emerges as a Prime Acquisition Target
Ives also highlights AI infrastructure provider Nebius as a likely acquisition candidate in 2026. After a standout year of stock performance, the company has drawn attention as a potential strategic asset for hyperscale cloud providers.
He identifies Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon as logical buyers, given their ongoing need for specialized AI infrastructure. As competition intensifies, acquiring rather than building capacity from scratch could offer speed and efficiency advantages.
Nebius’ inclusion in tech and AI predictions 2026 underscores growing consolidation risks—and opportunities—within the AI supply chain.
Cybersecurity Becomes a Market Leader
As AI adoption accelerates, so do security threats. Ives expects cybersecurity to be one of the strongest-performing tech subsectors in 2026, driven by rising enterprise demand and increasingly sophisticated attacks.
He points to CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks as top beneficiaries of this trend. While performance has varied recently, the long-term fundamentals remain strong as organizations prioritize protection across cloud, endpoint, and AI-driven environments.
Within the broader tech and AI predictions 2026, cybersecurity stands out as a defensive growth story—one that benefits regardless of broader market volatility.
Why Investor Nervousness May Be Misplaced
A recurring theme in Ives’ outlook is the gap between fear and fundamentals. While investors worry about spending levels, regulatory scrutiny, and competition, he believes the scale of the AI opportunity dwarfs those concerns.
History suggests that transformative technologies often face skepticism during early adoption phases. Over time, companies that execute effectively tend to justify—and exceed—initial investment.
This perspective anchors Ives’ tech and AI predictions 2026, which favor long-term vision over short-term noise.
What Investors Should Take Away
Ives’ predictions highlight several key trends likely to shape 2026:
- AI moves from experimentation to large-scale deployment
- Infrastructure and data center players gain renewed relevance
- Strategic partnerships reshape competitive dynamics
- Cybersecurity becomes essential, not optional
For investors, the message is clear: selectivity matters, but the broader AI narrative remains intact.
The next phase of the AI revolution is about execution, not imagination. Dan Ives’ tech and AI predictions 2026 paint a picture of a sector transitioning from hype-driven enthusiasm to real-world impact. From autonomous transportation and AI-powered infrastructure to strategic partnerships and cybersecurity growth, the pieces are falling into place.
While volatility and skepticism will persist, the underlying momentum suggests that 2026 could reward investors who stay focused on innovation, scale, and long-term transformation. If Ives is right, the AI story is not peaking—it’s just getting started.