Welcome back to Belmar Bytes! In our first episode of 2026, hosts Scott Billows and Matt Hui kick off the new year by diving deep into their predictions for the technology landscape over the next 12 months. 

Scott and Matt reflect on the rapid evolution of the market and what it means for organizations trying to stay ahead.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The AI "Tsunami": Scott predicts that 2026 is the year the world wakes up to a massive wave of advancement, where automation and autonomous technologies (like Waymo and humanoid robots) fundamentally change operations for organizations like food banks.
• AI as an Operating System: Matt argues that AI is no longer a "shiny object" or fad; it has become as fundamental as an operating system, caked into everything we do.
• The Trust Imperative: With reliance on data growing, security and trust are paramount. Matt predicts outsized investments in cybersecurity, noting it is no longer a question of if you get hacked, but when.
• From Reactive to Proactive: The duo discusses the shift in Salesforce’s Agent Force, predicting a move from reactive prompting to proactive insights that deliver answers before you even ask.
• Rising Expectations: As tools improve, user expectations for speed and accuracy skyrocket, requiring businesses to ensure their data plumbing is solid.

Join us as we explore how to prepare for this accelerated rate of change and why proactive organizations will have a significant leg up in 2026.