TechCrunch’s Equity crew is bringing 2025 to a close and getting ahead on the year to come with our annual predictions episode! Hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan were joined by Build Mode host Isabelle Johannessen to dissect the year’s biggest tech developments, from mega AI funding rounds that defied expectations to the rise of “physical AI,” and make their calls for 2026. <\/p>\n
The group tackled everything from why AI agents didn’t live up to the hype in 2025 (but probably will in 2026), to how Hollywood will push back against AI-generated content, to why VCs are facing a serious liquidity crisis.<\/p>\n
Chapters: <\/p>\n
00:00 – Introduction <\/p>\n
01:43 – Rating our 2025 predictions <\/p>\n
04:19 – Funding in the bubble era <\/p>\n
06:35 – World models and the future of AI <\/p>\n
09:05 – The year of AI agents (for real this time) <\/p>\n
11:58 – Physical AI everywhere <\/p>\n
15:19 – AI meets Hollywood <\/p>\n
16:25 – Regulatory chaos and federal preemption <\/p>\n
18:34 – The liquidity crisis and LP direct investing <\/p>\n
22:19 – IPO predictions for 2026 <\/p>\n
23:57 – Startup trends for 2026 <\/p>\n
27:06 – Buzzwords we’re sick of hearing <\/p>\n
28:15 – Rapid fire predictions <\/p>\n
32:50 – What’s next for Build Mode <\/p>\n
Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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