Ryan Serhant says AI and ultra-personal services will dominate 2026

AI efficiencies versus high-touch service

The economic landscape is splitting into two profitable extremes. On one end, AI and its underlying data lakes are driving mass-market efficiencies. These tools offer low-cost, low-support solutions that can scale infinitely. On the opposite end, there is a burgeoning market for high-cost, high-support "in-real-life" services. As automation handles routine tasks, affluent clients will pay a premium for human-led, high-touch support that AI cannot replicate. The middle ground—offering moderate support at moderate prices—is rapidly disappearing.

YouTube as a business distribution engine

Organic reach on YouTube remains one of the most underutilized assets for established businesses. Most traditional firms still rely on 30-year-old marketing playbooks, ignoring the power of free distribution. By shifting to a podcast-first strategy, businesses can generate long-form authority that fragments into dozens of short-form clips. This approach can cut marketing costs by 95% while building a "deep community" rather than a passive audience. For local businesses, such as real estate firms in Las Vegas, hyper-targeted content creates a direct pipeline of clients who already trust the provider before the first meeting.

The rise of the 24-hour streamer

Streaming has evolved from a hobby into a multi-million dollar operation characterized by deep, parasocial connections. Performers like Ishowspeed demonstrate the power of live engagement, attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers who track their movements in real-time. While lucrative, this path requires a total surrender of privacy and significant security risks. However, for the next generation of creators, this level of constant connectivity represents the ultimate form of community building, surpassing the reach of traditional athletes or musicians.