Predictions 2026: Trust & Privacy—How GenAI, Deepfakes, And Privacy Tech Will Affect Trust Globally

Summary

The episode outlines Forrester’s 2026 Trust & Privacy predictions, focusing on three disruptive trends: rising consumer use of generative AI in high‑risk decisions despite low trust, a rapid increase in deep‑fake detection spending, and a wave of consolidation in privacy‑preserving technologies. By 2026, 30 % of consumers are expected to rely on genAI for finance and health advice while cross‑checking outputs and consulting professionals. Deep‑fake threats will become mainstream, driving a 40 % jump in detection‑tool budgets across media, finance, help‑desks and HR. At least five privacy‑tech acquisitions are forecast as firms shift from masking to advanced controls such as homomorphic encryption and synthetic data, making privacy tech a competitive differentiator.