The automotive dashboard is evolving into a media hub. By 2029, 203 million connected car drivers will give advertisers access to captive audiences through AI commerce, in-vehicle ads, charging sessions, and rideshare integrations.

This report presents five of the most intriguing and/or under-the-radar forecasts for 2026 that businesses should be aware of, as compiled by our forecasting team.

Robotaxi deployments are moving from pilots to broader rollouts as companies try to cash in on advancements in autonomous driving. Lyft recently began robotaxi tests in Atlanta, and Amazon's Zoox launched in Las Vegas. For companies investing in robotaxis, the opportunity extends beyond passenger rides. These fleets could eventually serve as a backbone for cost-saving delivery services, expanding the commercial applications of the technology. With Uber and DoorDash testing delivery robots, robotaxis could be the next move in on-demand logistics, moving beyond transporting passengers to carrying packages, meals, and groceries.

Meta pays creators for traffic, Spotify wins in-app freedom post-Epic ruling, and Amazon’s Zoox expands robotaxi testing despite software recalls.

Despite skyrocketing adoption and falling costs, most companies are stuck with small wins—highlighting a need for sharper, use-case-driven strategies.

Open-source AI models democratize access to powerful robotics tools, while autonomous vehicle tech could standardize the industry and speed up development.

With Waymo and Uber scaling operations via partnerships, robotaxis could become a competitive force in global transportation markets.

While the deal could bring in new revenue, integrating Expedia risks overcomplicating Uber’s app and driving users to competitors.

Beyond just advertising, Alphabet’s tech touches nearly everything. This report looks at 23 of its most important business areas, examining their maturity, disruption of the market, leverage over partners, integration with other products, and five-year outlook.

Add robotaxis to the list of upcoming Tesla products: Struggles with fully autonomous driving, delivering on schedule, and safety are huge roadblocks to Tesla’s robotaxi flex.

Computers don’t need brake pedals, feds say: AVs are changing the vehicle regulation landscape, but driverless cars still lack the necessary training wheels.

eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson and junior analyst Blake Droesch explain whether Americans want a social app geared toward close friends. Then, forecasting analyst Eric Haggstrom discusses whether the Disney+ bundle can lure sports viewers from cable, breaks down whether Waymo’s robot taxi improvements outweigh rider complaints and more.