[AI did not write this caption. But it could have] AI has gone from a tech novelty to a society-altering force. In just the past few years, it has revolutionized scientific research, classrooms and workplaces. People around the planet have turned to it to break through writer’s block and contest parking tickets. But that growth has come with risks. The economy is increasingly propped up by bets about the technology’s future — 80% of U.S. stock gains last year came from AI companies. Policy battles are ramping up as some seek to rein in tech companies and others opt for an unregulated Wild West. Deepfake and explicit videos are causing harm and blurring what is real in an already fragmented information environment. UC Berkeley News asked some of the campus’s leading AI experts about the developments they’ll be monitoring in 2026. For the rest of the Q&A, visit the link in our bio: bit.ly/4sC4v5g #UCBerkeley #ResearchWithResults