Why 2026 will test our ability to think for ourselves

AS 2026 rapidly approaches, a new threat to personal and working lives is emerging: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly taking over everyday decisions that were never meant to be handed to a machine.

Tasks that once demanded careful consideration can now be completed with a single tap. Some now turn to AI-driven symptom checkers to judge whether a nagging ache or pain warrants a doctor’s visit, a wait and see approach or even a dash to the emergency department.