12 Graphs That Explain the State of AI in 2026
Summary
IEEE Spectrum synthesizes the Stanford AI Index 2026, showing AI investment and model development accelerating while public sentiment remains mixed. The piece highlights US dominance in model releases, China’s lead in robotics, surging compute capacity, and rising emissions, plus ongoing improvements in benchmarks and questions about real-world impact and regulation. For SMBs, the trends imply more capable tools, but with governance and energy considerations to manage.