Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] AI agents could eventually become the dominant users of software, fundamentally reshaping software architecture and competition. MarketingProfs
• [New] One standout story is Planview's launch of Agent Resource Management, designed to optimize human and AI resources in an era where Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise applications will leverage AI agents by 2027. Coaio Limited
• [New] Every AI agent acting on behalf of a user will eventually require a compliant wallet layer backed by genuine licensing infrastructure, user-controlled custody, and payment rails expressly designed for real-world transactions. The Fintech Times
• [New] Between 2026 and 2030, demand for powertrain domain control unit platforms is expected to accelerate as automakers deploy centralized vehicle architectures designed to reduce ECU complexity and improve software scalability. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] We can expect many more creators to adopt generative AI methods in 2026 to make dialog and level design increasingly intelligent, realistic, and engaging. FunTimes Magazine
• [New] In 2026, AI-powered educational artifacts will be commonplace, and the good news is that AI tutors do not take holidays and, when designed responsibly, do not carry human biases. FunTimes Magazine
• [New] MR / VR headsets are projected to rebound in 2026 with the launch of new devices, though their appeal will remain largely limited to gamers and businesses focused on design, training, and collaboration. IDC: The premier global market intelligence company
• [New] The EU's tighter CO2 standards for cars and vans are designed around a 100% emissions-reduction target for new vehicles from 2035. Yahoo Finance
• [New] The new Opel model will use components from the Leapmotor International ecosystem; specifically it will use the B 10's lithium-iron-phosphate battery technology and Leapmotor's standard electric architecture. Automotive World
• [New] Kirit Bhatia shares that APAC is already inside the stablecoin shift and that the future of money movement will be hybrid by design. Fintech Singapore
• [New] By 2026, enterprises will use composable architecture to ensure that applications evolve in real time, adapting seamlessly to new demands. Journal
• [New] Platforms that combine AI execution, governed data architecture, omnichannel engagement, and workflow automation will be best positioned to capture growth through 2032. openpr
• [New] Lockheed Martin's vertical-launch JAGM integration suggests a scalable, cost-competitive kinetic layer for U.S. counter-UAS architecture that could reduce platform footprint requirements across naval, ground, and autonomous vessel domains. Drone Warfare
• [New] The Marine Corps is accelerating integration of electrically silent, payload-reconfigurable unmanned ground vehicles into its Force Design 2030 distributed littoral combat architecture, potentially reducing manned exposure in high-drone-threat Pacific scenarios. Drone Warfare
• [New] Many required design elements of developments, such as London's second staircase requirement, will attract additional BSL as communal space. Mishcon de Reya LLP
• [New] Buildings are major contributors to global energy use and CO2 emissions, so it's no surprise that improving their efficiency will be a central focus in the years ahead. cities-to-be
• [New] As patients live longer and expect to remain active, structural heart therapies must be designed with lifetime care in mind. The AI Journal
• [New] As global and local rules advance, the organizations that succeed will treat responsible tech as governance by design - a built-in capability that underpins every AI-enabled workflow. ThoughtWorks
• [New] One emerging opportunity is hardwood cross-laminated timber for construction, which could be used to build schools, public buildings, low and high-rise projects, if production facilities are established in Kentucky. UK Research | University of Kentucky
• [New] KKR & Co. has secured more than $10 billion in commitments to launch Helix Digital Infrastructure, a new company that will design, build, own, and operate specialized AI infrastructure, including data centers, power generation, transmission, and connectivity. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] We expect to see a surge in materials like bagasse, bamboo fiber, and Home Compostable films, which are designed to break down into natural components, offering a decentralized waste management path that aligns with stricter global waste reduction goals. Million Pack
• [New] Updated building codes mean new buildings produce lower emissions, but older ones require retrofitting, especially since 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been constructed. / Canada The Guardian

Last updated: 11 May 2026