Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has released his bold predictions for the tech and AI sectors in 2026, painting an optimistic picture of continued growth and transformation. The outspoken tech bull describes the current landscape as a “4th Industrial Revolution” with the United States leading China in technology for the first time in three decades.
Tesla’s autonomous vehicle ambitions take center stage in Ives’ predictions, with the analyst forecasting that the EV maker will successfully launch robotaxis in over 30 cities and begin volume production of Cybercabs. Despite skepticism from some analysts like Ross Gerber, who questions Tesla’s ability to compete with Waymo’s advances, Ives maintains his bullish stance with a base case target showing 26% upside and a bull case projecting 68% gains.
Oracle is positioned for a major comeback after recent struggles following disappointing earnings. Ives predicts the company will successfully build out its datacenter targets, convert its massive AI backlog, and reach $250 per share in 2026, dismissing current negative sentiment as temporary.
One of the most significant predictions involves a formal AI partnership between Apple and Google centered around Google’s Gemini AI technology. This collaboration would finally provide Apple with a comprehensive AI strategy and could propel the iPhone maker to a $5 trillion market capitalization. The partnership is expected to launch as a subscription service within Apple’s ecosystem, helping Cupertino catch up to competitors in the AI race.
AI infrastructure provider Nebius emerges as a top acquisition target, with Ives naming Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon as likely buyers. The Dutch company has already demonstrated impressive momentum with 212% year-to-date gains in 2025, and market research firm Futurum Group has identified it as a key player in the next generation of AI infrastructure.
Cybersecurity stocks are flagged as major winners for 2026, with CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks named as Wedbush’s top picks. The sector is expected to be one of tech’s highest-performing subsectors as security demands intensify alongside AI adoption. While Palo Alto Networks has seen modest 2% gains, CrowdStrike has surged 41% year-to-date, reflecting growing investor confidence in cybersecurity’s critical role in the AI era.
Key Quotes
On one hand this is a 4th Industrial Revolution taking shape with the US leading China on tech for the first in 30 years…while on the other hand the trillions of dollars needed to reach the heights of enterprise/consumer AI Revolution have caused nervousness and doubters among investors
Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities frames the current AI boom in historical terms while acknowledging investor concerns about the massive capital requirements. This quote captures both the transformative potential and the financial risks inherent in the AI revolution.
Tesla will successfully launch Robotaxis in over 30 cities in 2026 and start to scale volume production of Cybercabs
Ives makes a specific, measurable prediction about Tesla’s autonomous vehicle rollout despite skepticism from other analysts. This bold forecast reflects his conviction that Tesla will win the self-driving race against competitors like Waymo.
Apple and Google will announce a formal AI partnership around Gemini that will finally cement a real AI strategy for Cupertino. This will ultimately be a subscription service launched in the Apple network and lead to Apple achieving a $5 trillion market cap in 2026.
This prediction suggests a major strategic shift for Apple, which has lagged competitors in AI development. The partnership would leverage Google’s advanced Gemini AI technology while potentially generating significant subscription revenue for both companies.
Oracle successfully builds out its datacenter targets, starts to convert its massive RPO AI backlog and hits $250 per share in 2026 despite the dark negative sentiment on the stock today
Ives takes a contrarian stance on Oracle, predicting a strong recovery despite recent disappointing earnings and concerns about AI overspending. This reflects his confidence in the company’s AI infrastructure investments paying off.
Our Take
Ives’ predictions reveal a critical inflection point where AI transitions from experimental technology to core infrastructure across multiple industries. The Apple-Google partnership prediction is particularly significant—it would represent Apple’s acknowledgment that it cannot win the AI race alone and needs strategic alliances to remain competitive. The emphasis on infrastructure players like Oracle and Nebius highlights an often-overlooked reality: the AI revolution requires massive physical infrastructure investments in data centers and computing power, not just software innovation. The Tesla robotaxi prediction, while ambitious, reflects growing confidence that autonomous vehicle technology is finally ready for mainstream deployment. Most telling is Ives’ characterization of investor nervousness despite obvious opportunities—suggesting we’re still in the early innings of AI adoption with significant upside potential for those willing to navigate the volatility and capital intensity of this transformation.
Why This Matters
These predictions underscore the accelerating transformation of the tech industry driven by artificial intelligence, with implications extending far beyond stock market performance. The forecast of a formal Apple-Google AI partnership represents a potential watershed moment that could reshape competitive dynamics in consumer AI, forcing other tech giants to respond with their own strategic alliances.
The emphasis on AI infrastructure and data centers through Oracle and Nebius highlights the massive capital requirements of the AI revolution—trillions of dollars that will flow through the economy and create new winners and losers. For businesses, this signals that AI adoption will continue accelerating, requiring strategic investments in both technology and cybersecurity.
The Tesla robotaxi prediction represents a critical test case for autonomous vehicle technology and could fundamentally alter urban transportation, ride-sharing economics, and automotive industry business models. If successful, it would validate the massive investments in self-driving technology and potentially trigger rapid adoption across the sector. The characterization of this era as the “4th Industrial Revolution” with U.S. technological leadership suggests profound geopolitical and economic implications that will shape global competitiveness for decades to come.
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