The major U.S. trends in AI in 2025 – and what's next in 2026 – Context by TRF (www.context.news)

In a recent discussion on AI trends in the U.S. leading into 2026, significant concerns emerged about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in various sectors, including immigration enforcement, labor markets, and grief technology. The Trump administration's intensified use of AI for surveillance, such as facial recognition tools and social media scraping, has raised ethical questions and civil liberty concerns. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the United Auto Workers union challenge these practices, experts emphasize that AI-driven surveillance will remain a critical topic in the future, highlighting the need for better oversight and regulation. Workplace anxieties about AI are also notable, with over half of American workers fearing job losses due to automation. Although some jobs are indeed at higher risk, experts suggest that the transition may not be as swift as feared, and companies may need to rehire human workers for roles where AI falls short. Additionally, the rise of "grief tech," which creates digital avatars of deceased individuals, brings forth complex legal and moral implications, indicating challenges for both industry and society in navigating AI's evolving landscape. As regulation discussions intensify, particularly around protecting youth from harmful AI interactions, the implications for the AI/ML community and societal norms are profound.