In the rapidly evolving landscape of connected technology, few voices carry the weight of Jason Hope’s. The Arizona-based tech entrepreneur and futurist has earned a reputation for accurately predicting how the Internet of Things (IoT) would transform from buzzword to business necessity. Having championed IoT since its early days, Hope’s insights have proven remarkably prescient—as he noted years ago, “The future isn’t coming; the Internet of Things is already here.”
Now, as IoT enters a new phase of maturity, Hope is looking ahead to the transformative shifts businesses can expect by 2026. Drawing from his years of expertise as an investor and technology advisor, Hope outlines five critical IoT trends that will reshape the business landscape in the next few years.
1. The Disappearance of IoT as a Separate Concept
“We’re approaching the point where IoT will become so ubiquitous that we’ll stop referring to it as a ‘thing’ altogether,” predicts Jason Hope. “Much like we no longer marvel at the miracle of flipping on a light switch, connected technology will simply become part of the background infrastructure of business.”
This normalization represents a significant shift. By 2026, Hope anticipates that businesses won’t have “IoT strategies” but rather integrated digital infrastructures where connectivity is assumed. This transition will force companies to evolve from viewing IoT as a separate initiative to seeing it as a fundamental component of operations.
“Companies still treating IoT as an add-on or separate department will find themselves at a severe competitive disadvantage,” warns Hope. “The leaders will be those who have fully integrated connected technologies into their core business processes.”
The implications are substantial: organizations must begin breaking down silos between IoT projects and mainstream business operations, embedding connected thinking into every aspect of strategy and execution.
2. Enhanced Security Through Specialized IoT Protection
While IoT offers tremendous opportunities, it also presents significant vulnerabilities. As billions of additional devices come online,Jason Hope’s analysis of IoT security challenges emphasizes that cybersecurity will become the critical factor in successful IoT implementation.
“As the IoT ecosystem expands, so does the attack surface for potential threats,” explains Hope. “By 2026, we’ll see specialized security solutions designed specifically for the unique challenges of IoT environments.”
Hope points to emerging technologies like SIM card security enhancements and device-specific encryption protocols that will become standard by 2026. Businesses that neglect these security considerations risk not only data breaches but also potential physical harm if operational technology systems are compromised.
“Every connected device represents both an opportunity and a vulnerability,” says Hope. “Forward-thinking businesses are already adopting zero-trust architectures and continuous authentication methods for their IoT implementations.”
This focus on security isn’t just about protection—it’s about enabling innovation. As Hope notes, “Robust security creates the foundation of trust that allows for more ambitious applications of IoT technology.”
3. The Rise of Edge Computing in IoT Architectures
The traditional model of sending all IoT data to the cloud for processing is rapidly becoming obsolete. By 2026, tech forecasts from industry experts predict a massive shift toward edge computing, where processing occurs closer to where data is generated.
“Latency is the enemy of many IoT applications,” Hope explains. “When you need real-time decision-making—whether in autonomous vehicles, industrial safety systems, or healthcare devices—waiting for data to travel to the cloud and back simply isn’t viable.”
Edge computing addresses this challenge by distributing processing power across the network, enabling faster responses and reducing bandwidth requirements. Hope anticipates that by 2026, most IoT implementations will use a hybrid approach, with critical real-time processing occurring at the edge while more complex analytics happen in the cloud.
“This architectural shift will open new possibilities for IoT applications that were previously impractical,” says Hope. “Industries from manufacturing to healthcare will benefit from systems that can respond in milliseconds rather than seconds.”
Businesses preparing for this shift should begin evaluating their current IoT infrastructure and identifying processes that would benefit from edge processing capabilities.
4. The Integration of IoT with AI and Machine Learning
While IoT generates vast amounts of data, the real value comes from translating that data into actionable insights. By 2026, predictions from connected technology experts suggest that artificial intelligence will be inextricably linked with IoT implementations.
“The combination of IoT sensors and AI creates systems that not only monitor but actually understand and respond to the physical world,” Hope explains. “This transition from passive data collection to active intelligence represents the next evolution of IoT.”
Hope points to several examples of this integration already emerging: predictive maintenance systems that can forecast equipment failures before they occur, smart agricultural solutions that optimize irrigation based on soil conditions, and healthcare monitoring that can detect subtle changes in patient conditions.
“By 2026, AI-powered IoT systems will become sophisticated enough to make autonomous decisions in increasingly complex scenarios,” says Hope. “This will shift human workers from operational roles to supervisory ones, where they oversee and refine the decisions made by intelligent systems.”
For businesses, this means IoT investments should be evaluated not just for their immediate data collection capabilities but for their potential to integrate with AI systems as this trend accelerates.
5. Sustainability Through IoT-Driven Resource Optimization
As environmental concerns grow more pressing, Hope’s perspective on technology’s role in space exploration provides insights into how IoT can play a crucial role in helping businesses achieve sustainability goals while improving operational efficiency.
“IoT provides unprecedented visibility into resource consumption,” Hope notes. “By 2026, we’ll see widespread adoption of IoT systems specifically designed to minimize energy use, reduce waste, and optimize resource allocation.”
Examples include smart building systems that can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, supply chain monitoring that minimizes transportation emissions, and manufacturing processes that precisely measure material inputs to reduce waste.
“The business case for IoT-driven sustainability has become compelling,” says Hope. “Companies are discovering that the same systems that reduce their environmental footprint also deliver significant cost savings.”
Hope predicts that by 2026, innovations in longevity research and technology will inspire similar approaches to business sustainability, driven by both consumer demand and regulatory requirements. Businesses that implement these systems now will gain both operational advantages and reputational benefits.
Preparing Your Business for the IoT Future
As these trends reshape the business landscape, technology thought leader Jason Hope advises companies to take a strategic approach to IoT implementation.
“The most successful businesses won’t chase every new IoT capability,” he cautions. “They’ll identify the specific challenges in their operations that connected technology can solve, and implement focused solutions that deliver measurable value.”
Hope recommends that businesses begin by assessing their current IoT maturity, identifying both immediate opportunities and long-term strategic shifts required to capitalize on these trends. Critical steps include developing the necessary talent, establishing cross-functional teams to break down organizational silos, and creating governance frameworks that address security and ethical considerations.
“The window for gaining competitive advantage through IoT is still open,” concludes Hope, “but it’s narrowing as these technologies become mainstream. The businesses that thrive will be those that move beyond viewing IoT as a technology initiative and recognize it as a fundamental business transformation.”
By understanding and preparing for these five key trends, forward-thinking businesses can position themselves to thrive in the increasingly connected future that Jason Hope has been predicting for years—a future that is now rapidly becoming a reality.
