"All-In Podcast" predicts 2026: AI, Copper, and Electricity become the new global economic drivers

Four tech giants in Silicon Valley in the latest episode of the “All-In Podcast” pointed out that by 2026, AI, copper, and electricity have formed an inseparable new trinity, becoming the core engines driving the global economy. AI is essentially an electricity converter; large-scale model computations turn electricity from an energy issue into a national-level computing power ticket. Copper, on the other hand, is the digital nerve; whether it’s wiring high-density data centers or upgrading power grids to support energy transition, copper has leapt from a basic metal to a scarce strategic resource.

Computing power and productivity growth are the main drivers of AI explosion

The four hosts unanimously agree that one of the core drivers of U.S. economic growth in 2026 will be AI’s enhancement of productivity. AI crypto czar David Sacks pointed out that the U.S. labor productivity’s annualized growth rate once approached 5%, hitting a recent high, mainly because companies are heavily adopting AI to automate knowledge work that was originally expensive and scarce.

He explained with the “Gevens Paradox” that when programming, data analysis, and content creation become cheaper, demand actually increases, and work does not decrease. Professions like radiologists, often thought to be replaced by AI, are actually seeing continued growth in numbers because testing becomes cheaper and faster, enabling the healthcare system to perform more scans, which in turn requires more professionals to verify and interpret results.

Sacks believes AI is no longer just a tech topic but an engine driving the upgrade of economic structures.

Computing power drives hardware demand, copper rises as a strategic resource

Chamath Palihapitiya believes the market has severely underestimated copper’s importance in the AI era. Data centers, chips, power grids, weapon systems, electric vehicles, and energy storage devices all rely heavily on copper.

Based on current investment and mining speeds, global copper supply in 2040 could be nearly 70% less than demand. Against the backdrop of countries emphasizing national security and industrial independence, copper has upgraded from a basic metal to a strategic resource. Therefore, Chamath considers that one of the most noteworthy assets by 2026 will be critical metals, especially copper.

Whoever secures the position first from power generation to power grid will win

AI, data centers, and industrial automation consume a lot of electricity, making power supply a new battleground. David Friedberg is optimistic that nuclear energy can support the future surge in electricity demand, but other hosts believe nuclear approval is slow, construction takes a long time, and costs are hard to control. Especially when solar plus energy storage might have already significantly lowered the marginal cost of electricity by the time nuclear plants are operational.

The consensus among the four is that the future will feature a “hybrid” power structure, with nuclear, solar, energy storage, fossil fuels, and natural gas coexisting, just in different proportions. Those who can build quickly, provide stable power, lower costs, and also consider national security and industrial needs will have an advantage in the AI era.

Electricity becomes a bottleneck for technological development, energy policies are being completely rewritten

The four hosts outlined a clear industry pathway: first, AI becomes widespread, driving enterprises and governments to adopt automation; next, the demand for computing power surges, promoting data center and chip construction; then, the demand for copper and critical metals explodes, becoming strategic assets; finally, electricity becomes a key bottleneck for technological development, prompting countries to redesign energy policies.

By 2026, this chain will be fully exposed, involving not only the tech industry but also mining, energy, defense, finance, and government sectors.

AI not only leads the software revolution but also triggers a comprehensive reorganization of the physical world

The program concluded by emphasizing that AI is not just a software revolution but a force that propagates downstream, changing work patterns, boosting hardware investments, increasing metal demand, and reshaping energy policies. For investors, enterprises, and governments, understanding that by 2026, one cannot just look at tech stocks but must also understand copper, power grids, power plants, and the geopolitical and industrial security behind them.

(Platinum hits a new high, becoming the most important precious metal asset allocation option besides gold and silver)

This article, “All-In Podcast” Forecasts 2026: AI, Copper, and Electricity as the New Global Economic Mainstays, first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.