The Tool Desk
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What consumer technology trends actually matter next?
The near-term story is less about a sudden wave of futuristic devices than about how people choose and live with products they already use: phones, computers, TVs, appliances, and connected-home devices. A feature earns its place when it solves a recognizable problem, works consistently, and does not impose costs or complexity that outweigh the benefit.
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NielsenIQ and the Consumer Technology Association (NIQ/CTA) estimated consumer technology and durable-goods sales at about $1.3 trillion in 2025, up 3% from 2024. Their 2026 outlook projected a 0.4% year-over-year decline. These are an industry outlook’s estimate and forecast, not audited future results.
| Period | NIQ/CTA outlook | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | About $1.3 trillion in sales; up 3% year over year | NIQ/CTA estimate, published in its 2026 outlook |
| 2026 | Down 0.4% year over year | NIQ/CTA forecast, not a reported result |
The forecast also varies by region: NIQ/CTA expected growth in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America; North America was approximately flat, while Asia-Pacific was expected to decline. It points to replacement cycles and premium features as possible demand drivers, including AI-capable PCs, Mini LED and OLED televisions, built-in and smart-home appliances, and open-ear headsets. That list signals areas of industry interest, not a guarantee that every category or feature will grow.
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NIQ/CTA’s underlying consumer message is that buyers remain value-conscious but may pay more when a feature has an understandable payoff. AI branding alone is not that payoff. A faster workflow, a display that better suits a room, or an appliance function a household will actually use is easier to evaluate than a promise of smarter technology in the abstract.
Are AI features worth paying extra for?
Only when the feature improves a task you do often enough to justify its price, and when you can use it with acceptable accuracy and privacy. Generative AI adoption is rising in U.S. survey data, but use does not equal trust or prove that AI is a reason to replace a device.
Use is growing, but verification remains part of the experience
Deloitte’s sixth Connected Consumer study surveyed about 3,500 U.S. consumers in June 2025. It found that 53% were experimenting with or regularly using generative AI, compared with 38% in 2024; 20% said they were regular users. Among surveyed gen-AI users, 65% used standalone phone apps, 60% used tool-specific websites, and 69% encountered AI embedded in familiar software or services. Those channels can overlap, so the percentages should not be added together.
Rank #2
The same Deloitte survey found that one-third of surveyed users had encountered incorrect or misleading information, 24% reported data privacy issues, and 53% mostly or always checked AI outputs independently. These are U.S. survey findings, not global usage rates.
Let AI help with research; keep the decision yours
Gartner’s January 2026 survey of 322 U.S. consumers found that 31% were willing to let AI narrow household-supply choices and 28% personal-electronics choices. In a separate sample of 846 U.S. consumers surveyed in November–December 2025 who had used AI while shopping for a recent purchase, 54% said they had to double-check all information AI supplied, and 62% said the information ended up wasting their time. The different samples and questions matter: willingness to use AI for narrowing options is not the same as confidence in its answers.
For a purchase, use AI suggestions as leads to verify rather than as a final authority. Check critical specifications, compatibility, prices, and terms on the seller’s or manufacturer’s own pages. If an AI-enabled feature cannot explain what it does for your use case—or requires trusting answers you cannot verify—it is a weak reason to pay a premium.
Why reliability, support, and privacy matter more as devices connect
Connected devices can make everyday tasks easier, but they also make ownership depend on more than the hardware. Reliability, straightforward setup, software support, transparent data practices, and predictable costs shape whether a connected product remains useful after the novelty fades.
Assurant’s 2026 Global Connected Consumer Trends Report release says 80% of respondents globally felt connected technology makes life better, 19 percentage points higher than in 2021. The same company-sponsored study reports that 85% said customizable protection plans made them more likely to purchase a device. Because Assurant sells protection and connected-living services, treat the latter as a finding from a commercially interested source, not independent proof that protection plans are necessary.
For smart-home privacy, “connected device” is not one uniform risk category. A 2025 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study surveyed 401 U.S. smart-home users across lighting, security devices, sensors, thermostats, and voice assistants. Participants viewed voice assistants as the most problematic category and felt most confident about security devices and thermostats. The findings apply to that study’s U.S. participants and categories; they do not establish how every user or country views every device.
A practical check before adding a connected device
- Benefit: Identify the recurring task it will improve, not just the feature list.
- Compatibility: Confirm that it works with the phone, network, and other devices you already have.
- Privacy: Look for clear explanations of what data is collected, how controls work, and whether core functions depend on sharing data.
- Ownership costs: Check for subscriptions, optional services, repair or replacement costs, and any recurring fees before buying.
- Support: Check what software updates, troubleshooting, and customer support the maker says it provides.
These checks turn “smart” into an ownership question: not merely whether a product can connect, but whether its connected features remain manageable and worthwhile.
Rank #4
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Which future technologies are near-term, and which are still a horizon?
AI features in current software and products are already part of consumer life; more capable general-purpose robots and neural interfaces belong to a much longer-horizon discussion. A technology appearing in a government foresight report is not evidence that it is about to become a routine household purchase.
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The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s April 2026 horizon report assesses technologies roughly ten years out, including general-purpose robots, neural implants, and orbital-debris removal. General-purpose robotics could eventually extend automation beyond narrow tasks, while neural implants could create new ways to interact with technology. GAO also discusses privacy, security, autonomy, social, environmental, and legal concerns. It describes a foresight exercise and policy considerations, not predictions that these products will reach mass-market homes on a particular schedule. GAO says neural implants are currently available only to people with certain medical needs.
For consumers deciding what to buy now, the useful distinction is between demonstrated present-day utility and a possible future capability. Treat robotics and neural interfaces as technologies to watch, not reasons to postpone a purchase or assume a near-term lifestyle change.
Best Value
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How to decide whether a new feature is worth it
Use the same test for an AI laptop, connected appliance, smart-home sensor, or other premium feature. The right choice depends on your needs rather than on whether a product represents the newest trend.
- Name the problem. Write down the task or frustration the feature is meant to address.
- Check the real benefit. Look for a specific improvement you can understand and verify, rather than a broad claim about intelligence or convenience.
- Price the whole experience. Include the upfront premium and any recurring services, accessories, or support costs.
- Assess control and confidence. Consider whether you can inspect or correct important outputs, manage data settings, and use the device without unwanted automation.
- Compare against a simpler option. If a less expensive product already handles your task reliably, the new feature may not justify an upgrade.
This is especially useful when a purchase is prompted by a headline feature. NIQ/CTA’s outlook identifies premium features as potential demand drivers, but the consumer case still comes down to whether the added capability pays off in your routine.
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