Video and audio have dominated digital communications for years, but 2026 marks a pivotal evolution in how these formats will be created, consumed, and valued. The shift isn’t about technology enabling better production—it’s about audiences demanding more authentic connection.
The Shift to Authenticity
Our partners report a paradox at the heart of this transformation: as AI tools make professional-quality video and audio production accessible to virtually anyone, the competitive advantage is shifting to authenticity.
Auto-editing, voice cloning, script generation, and virtual presenters are democratizing broadcast-level content creation. Yet simultaneously, audiences are becoming more discerning, more skeptical, and more hungry for the unvarnished human presence that AI cannot replicate.
Short-Form Video Domination
The dominance of short-form video continues unabated—platforms prioritizing quick, digestible content still capture the lion’s share of attention.
However, behind-the-scenes glimpses, live recordings, transparent labeling of AI-generated elements, and visible human presence are becoming the price of entry as deepfakes and synthetic content proliferate.
Podcasts Continue to Grow
Audio, particularly podcasts, continues its remarkable growth trajectory—especially in B2B contexts where depth and expertise matter more than visual spectacle. The format’s intimacy creates connection that video often cannot match, while its flexibility allows audiences to engage during activities where screens aren’t accessible.
The technology enables unprecedented scale, but success in 2026 will require strategic restraint—knowing when to produce, what to automate, and where human presence is non-negotiable.
Download the 2026 Predictions eBook
You can download the 2026 Future of Communications eBook and get all of the insights from Worldcom PR Group Partners.
