AI and nuclear energy feature strongly in agenda-setting technologies for 2026

Nature published its latest list of emerging technologies to watch this week. Artificial intelligence appears in the edition with AI powered meteorology as the main technology to watch. Nuclear energy technologies are included for the first time. AI powered meteorology is accelerating and improving local weather forecasting, storm tracking and global climate modelling. A model by researchers at Google DeepMind anticipated that Hurricane Melissa would become a category 5 event days in advance and accurately predicted its trajectory. Another model trained on weather data from several sources provided accurate forecasts up to ten days before a weather event. Nuclear energy technologies on the list reflect progress in nuclear fusion that is bringing the promise of abundant energy closer. Small modular nuclear reactors are being developed rapidly to help nations cope with a surge in energy demand from data centers built to power AI applications.