Agentic AI, value investing: 8 global megatrends to watch in 2026

At a global megatrend seminar recently, Dr Santitarn Sathirathai, an advisor at the Thailand Development Research Institute and a Tatler Most Influential honouree in 2024, shared the view that the arrival of AI has created four new economic classes:

1. AI landlords: those who own AI-related sectors, including processing chips, AI creators, data centres, energy and specialised AI applications.
2. The cyborgs: those who are not producers but integrate AI to increase efficiency and reduce costs, growing their value exponentially.
3. Service professionals: groups focusing on human interaction and the human touch, such as teachers, flight attendants and service staff.
4. The displaced: those unable to adapt to AI, who will be pushed to the margins of society.

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Demographic transition is both an urgent challenge and a massive opportunity. The World Economic Forum stated in its Future-Proofing the Longevity Economy: Innovations and Key Trends white paper, published in March 2025, that average global life expectancy has increased significantly. In high-income countries, it could exceed 80 years.

This shift requires a rethink of “financial resilience” and “economic participation” at every stage of life. Governments, businesses and civil society must act now to build systems that allow people of all ages to thrive. The future of the longevity economy is happening, with innovations emerging to meet these demographic challenges. Without bold action, the world risks financial instability and overwhelming healthcare systems.

Read more: Riding the silver wave: opportunities and challenges of an ageing population

Trade conflicts between America and China, driven by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, have led to different perspectives from foreign policy analysts. The Economist reports that, on one hand, it is threatening a new Cold War between the US-led and Chinese power blocs, while on the other hand, the world is being divided into "spheres of influence" between America, China, and Russia.

The increasing turmoil in the global landscape calls for initiatives that promote unity and cooperation, whether through trade blocs or friend-shoring (relocating production to partner countries), to maintain export momentum and economic growth. In Thailand, changes are seen through the “Quick Big Win” policies of its Commerce Minister, Suphajee Suthumpun, who is deploying strategies to diversify into new markets, such as the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Asean.

In 2024, global investment in energy transition exceeded US$2 trillion in 2024. The International Energy Agency (IEA)’s World Energy Investment report, published in 2025, showed that capital flows to the energy sector were set to rise in 2025 to US$3.3 trillion, a 2 per cent rise in real terms on the previous year. Around US$2.2 trillion was going towards renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification collectively, twice as much as the US$1.1 trillion to oil, natural gas and coal. 

According to Deloitte Insights’ 2026 Renewable Energy Industry Outlook, there are challenges ahead posed by the new US tax law—often referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—and the Foreign Expenditure Control (FEOC) measures. These measures have cancelled several clean energy tax credits, leading to an 18 per cent drop in wind and solar investment in the first half of 2025. Despite this, renewable energy still accounted for 93 per cent of capacity growth in the US until September 2025, with solar power and energy storage systems making up 83 per cent.

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Deloitte suggests executives must “build fast, maintain flexibility and invest in resilience”. Key strategies include:

• Adapting to a shifting energy landscape to capture remaining tax credits and manage FEOC-related supply-chain risks

• Energy storage business models are shifting from grid ancillary services towards energy trading (energy arbitrage) and hybrid contracts. Companies should accelerate solar-plus-storage deployment to meet near-term demand, while investing in longer-duration battery technologies.

• Economic and policy pressures are sharpening the focus on capital discipline and cost control. AI-driven tools are now central to cutting costs, shortening timelines and improving efficiency.

• While deal activity has slowed, investors remain focused on mature assets, late-stage projects and platform acquisitions that offer safe-harbour protection and scalable value.

• Import tariffs and FEOC restrictions are pushing developers to diversify sourcing and reduce import dependence. In the short term, this means stockpiling and securing alternative suppliers; in the longer term, reshoring, domestic manufacturing, recycling and strategic partnerships to build resilient supply chains.

Wealth management is at an inflexion point, as investors shift away from passive strategies towards value-driven, transparent and flexible approaches.

Linnovate Partners estimates ESG-linked institutional investment will reach US$33.9 trillion in 2025. Despite a 25 per cent drop in private fund-raising, global assets under management rose from US$135 trillion in 2024 to US$147 trillion by mid-2025, reinforcing confidence in the sector.

By 2026, fund managers are expected to prioritise operational fundamentals over valuation multiples. AI and automation are reshaping fund operations, with McKinsey estimating potential cost-based impacts of 25 to 40 per cent. EY reports that 95 per cent of asset and wealth managers have expanded their use of generative AI.

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Urbanisation is one of the most significant global trends of the 21st century. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) projects that around 2.5 billion people will be living in urban areas by the middle of this century. By 2028, New Delhi, the capital of India, is expected to become the world’s most populous city.

This rapid population growth will drive rising demand for urban resources and services. “Many countries will face challenges in meeting the needs of growing urban populations, including housing, transport, energy systems and other infrastructure, as well as employment and basic services such as education and healthcare,” DESA noted.

The agency has urged governments to adopt more integrated policies to improve quality of life for both urban and rural populations, while strengthening urban–rural linkages by building on existing socio-economic and environmental ties. At the same time, this trend is accelerating demand for smart cities, green buildings and advanced construction solutions.

Momentum behind electric vehicles (EVs) continues to accelerate, with global EV sales expected to surpass 20 million units by 2025—more than a quarter of all new car sales. Polaris Market Research forecasts that the shared mobility market will reach US$815 billion by 2032, while data from Virta Global indicates that EVs will account for 25 per cent of all new vehicle purchases in 2025.

As cities expand, advanced mobility technology will help increase access, reduce emissions and ease traffic congestion.

StartUs Insights, an Austria-based research platform specialising in start-ups and high-growth companies in the clean energy sector, reports that many regions worldwide have introduced policies to promote environmentally friendly mobility initiatives and accelerate the shift to electric vehicles. The expansion of sustainable public transport systems and key technologies shaping the future of mobility include electric vehicles, autonomous driving, connected vehicles and shared mobility platforms.

This story was originally written in Thai by Usanisa Wongmongkolrit and published on December 9, 2025

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