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Westlake, Texas – November 11, 2025 — Pluralsight, the leading technology skills development company, today released its 2026 Tech Forecast, offering a data-driven look at the trends shaping the year ahead. Drawing on select insights from Pluralsight’s community of 2,500+ expert course authors and 3,000 tech executives, IT practitioners, and business leaders, the forecast explores how organizations can stay ahead in a year that will be defined by rapid AI evolution, workforce shifts, and rising pressure to do more with less.

The “AI Bubble” Will Deflate but Not Burst

The 2026 Tech Forecast predicts that while AI investment will continue to grow, the market will begin a gradual correction. Companies that chased generative AI hype in 2025 will start to pull back as ROI remains elusive, with 95 percent of organizations reporting zero return on their GenAI investments.

Unlike the dot-com crash, the bubble will not burst entirely. Backed by major players such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, AI will remain a cornerstone of digital transformation as these companies absorb losses and governments treat AI as a strategic priority.

“AI isn’t going away; it’s maturing,” said Pluralsight author Mike McQuillan. “The winners will be those who focus on sustainable value, not short-term hype.”

Multidisciplinary Tech Is Redefining Success

In 2026, the boundaries between tech roles will continue to blur. Cloud engineers need AI skills, data scientists must think like systems engineers, and cybersecurity specialists will need to defend against AI-driven attacks. The rise of agentic AI, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and small language models (SLMs) will push professionals to adapt faster than ever before. Critical thinking and continuous learning, not tool proficiency alone, will define success.

“AI as a Product” Will Evolve Into “AI as a Solution”

Companies are shifting from selling or adopting AI as a standalone product to integrating it as a business solution. In 2026, winning organizations will use AI to automate processes, reduce costs, and enhance customer experiences rather than chasing novelty.

“We’re moving from AI adoption to AI accountability,” said Pluralsight author Kesha Williams. “The next phase of AI success will be measured by responsibility, security, and real business impact.”

Overreliance on AI Will Lead to Skills Atrophy

Pluralsight’s 2026 Tech Forecast warns that professionals relying too heavily on AI risk eroding their foundational skills. From coding to critical thinking, over-automation may lead to a decline in hands-on expertise across industries. Leaders will need to embed ongoing upskilling to ensure teams remain sharp, skeptical, and capable of validating AI-generated work.

Entry-Level Tech Roles Will Continue to Decline

Entry-level tech jobs have already declined by 50 percent at major firms and 30 percent at startups since the pandemic, and 2026 will bring an even sharper drop. Routine tasks once used to train newcomers are now being automated by AI, leaving fewer on-ramps for emerging professionals. Without proactive mentorship and structured career pathways, the industry risks a “lost generation” of tech talent.

Rising Costs Will Push Companies Toward Internal Hiring and Upskilling

With hiring costs soaring, organizations are turning inward. Eighty-six percent of U.S. companies now spend more than $5,000 per new IT hire. The forecast predicts a major shift toward internal mobility, retention, and skill development as leaders seek to build future-ready teams without inflating headcount.

“Upskilling isn’t just a cost-saving strategy; it’s a resilience strategy,” said Drew Firment, AWS Hero and VP of Global Partnerships at Pluralsight. “Leaders who invest in continuous learning will weather economic and technological change far better than those who chase talent externally.”

You can access the full 2026 Tech Forecast here. To learn more about how Pluralsight helps individuals and organizations close critical technology skill gaps, visit Pluralsight.com.