As 2026 begins, the next phase of artificial intelligence is expected to focus on world models and smaller language models, while concerns over AI safety, regulation, and the sustainability of the current AI boom continue to grow, Euronews Next reports.

In 2025, public frustration with generative AI became so noticeable that Merriam-Webster named the word of the year “slop” or “AI slop,” defining it as low-quality content produced in large volumes by AI. Despite growing concerns about the quality and limitations of AI, technology companies continued releasing new models. Google’s Gemini 3 model, for example, prompted OpenAI to issue an urgent “code red” to improve GPT-5.

Experts warn that AI may be reaching “peak data,” where the usefulness of available training data for traditional chatbots is diminishing. This has led to the rise of world models, which use videos, simulations, and spatial inputs to create digital representations of real-world environments. Unlike large language models that predict text, world models simulate cause-and-effect and predict outcomes in physical systems, making them suitable for robotics, video games, and autonomous systems. Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter noted in November that AI had significantly improved the company’s robots, including its famous robot dog. Google, Meta, and Chinese tech firm Tencent are all developing their own world models, while AI pioneers such as Yann LeCun and Fei-Fei Li have launched startups focused on this technology.

In Europe, the trend may move in the opposite direction, with smaller, lightweight language models gaining traction. These models require less computing power and energy, making them suitable for smartphones and lower-powered devices, while still performing tasks like text generation, summarisation, and translation. Experts say small language models may offer a more sustainable and locally controlled approach amid concerns about the high costs and environmental impact of large-scale AI systems in the U.S.

Concerns over AI’s societal impact are also mounting. In 2025, a lawsuit claimed that ChatGPT acted as a “suicide coach” for a minor, highlighting potential harm to vulnerable users. MIT professor Max Tegmark and other experts warn that more powerful AI in 2026 could act autonomously, gathering data and making decisions without human input.

Political tensions around AI are expected to rise. In the U.S., President Donald Trump signed an executive order blocking states from implementing their own AI regulations. Activists and experts, including thousands who signed a petition organized by the Future of Life Institute, have called for caution against pursuing superintelligent AI too rapidly, citing risks to jobs and society.

Analysts predict that 2026 will see a broader social and political debate over AI safety, corporate accountability, and regulation. While AI promises advances in areas such as healthcare and robotics, fatigue, public backlash, and concerns over ethics and oversight may shape the direction of the technology in the coming year.