How SYZYGY Thinks About 2026

Okay, prediction time. Always a dangerous thing to do, because what if you’re wrong? This year, though, the writing is on the wall. Here goes:

The next chapter of production will be less about chasing what’s new and more about being deliberate. 

AI is here. We know this. Production has always required openness to problem-solving and innovation, and this moment is no different. Our clients are already all over these evolving tools and workflows. 

But the initial rush to understand the Shiny New Thing is now giving way to a more integrated sense of how and when to use it. The advantage now belongs to teams who are clear-eyed about how they want to work, and confident enough to advocate for it. Innovation can strengthen the work, but only when it’s paired with clarity, intention, and credible creative judgment.

So - and maybe this is prediction #2 - 2026 will be a year where craft and efficiency stop competing with each other. Where structure creates some much-needed breathing room. And where teams can focus on the work itself, not the tools they’re using to make it.