Predicting 2026 (as opposed to 2023) means moving away from solid ground, from prediction towards fiction. Here goes: A new jurisdiction will be created by 2026 to serve the interests of the largest companies in data management, straddling East and West. Also, in 2026, there will be a widespread sense that it is worth experimenting with new, de-centralized ways of political decision-making, with more accountability to the populace – and pilot projects will be carried out in many places.