2026 AV Trends: Emerging Technologies Changing Workplace Collaboration
Quick Summary: In 2026, emerging AV technologies include:
- Intelligent Experiences: AV is moving from static hardware to AI-driven, automated environments.
- Platform Agnostic: Systems must support multiple collaboration tools like Teams, Zoom, and Webex without reconfiguration.
- Networked Infrastructure: AV over IP is the new standard for scalable, IT-centric management.
- Equitable Design: Technology is being judged on its ability to create simple, human-centric meeting equity.
Top Emerging AV Technologies and Trends for 2026
Audiovisual systems in 2026 are transitioning from static hardware to intelligent environments that utilize AI automation to proactively adapt to user needs. While our 2025 trends focused heavily on the initial evolution of hybrid work, the current year marks a shift toward deeper audio-visual innovation.
Interactive Digital Solutions knows workplaces, healthcare systems, schools, and public institutions are under pressure to do more with less while delivering seamless digital experiences. The audiovisual systems that support them must go beyond enabling meetings. They need to create equity, efficiency, and intelligent AV experiences that adapt to the way people work.
We asked our team of AV engineers, strategists, and customer success leaders: What’s really changing in 2026? What matters most to our clients, and what’s no longer working?
Here’s what we found.
How is AI changing the next generation of AV technology?
AI is the core engine of emerging AV technologies in 2026, automating manual tasks like participant framing and speaker prioritization to remove friction. AI in AV is streamlining collaboration and removing manual friction.
AV systems will:
- Adjust lighting and sound based on occupancy and preferences
- Transcribe and summarize meetings automatically
- Deliver insights that drive smarter decisions
AI-driven AV doesn’t just improve experience. It can reduce support tickets, increase usage, and unlock true meeting equity. And these are not just upgrades. They represent a shift toward audio visual innovations that actively enhance the human experience in meetings and collaborative spaces.
“I can see AI being a large innovator and disruptor across nearly all industries due to its capabilities.”
— Nico Escobar, Field Engineer & Customer Care Center Rep
Actionable Step: Start small. Identify one use case where AI could improve your current workflow like using AI-powered cameras in meeting rooms or automated transcription tools. Create a space where experimentation is encouraged so your team can explore what adds value without overhauling everything at once.
Why is platform interoperability essential for hybrid collaboration?
Platform interoperability is essential because the modern hybrid workforce requires the flexibility to use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex or BYOD interchangeably without learning new systems. It’s largely one of the most important AV trends, meaning your spaces need to adapt quickly.
Emerging AV solutions must:
- Support seamless cross-platform functionality
- Require zero user reconfiguration
- Be intuitive from room to room
Clients are modernizing meeting spaces, especially in government and healthcare, and need solutions that reduce complexity without sacrificing compliance or security.
“Organizations are done forcing users into one platform.”
— Rhonda Lutz, Account Manager
Actionable Step: Audit your current meeting platforms and room setups. Are users jumping between Zoom, Teams, or Webex? If so, prioritize a platform-agnostic approach in your next room upgrade. Look for devices that support “join any meeting” capabilities with one touch to reduce friction and user confusion.
How is AV Over IP and USB-C Reshaping the AV Infrastructure?
AV over IP and USB-C are reshaping infrastructure by continuing to converge audiovisual systems with IT networks to enable remote management, reduced cabling, and total system scalability. Gone are the days of bulky switchers and HDBaseT dependence.
Our tech engineers note that the shift to networked AV:
- Enables remote management and monitoring
- Reduces cabling and cost
- Future-proofs systems for scalability
Add to that the continued rise of USB-C and USB 3.2, and you’ve got next-gen AV tools and infrastructure built for speed, simplicity, and software-first functionality.
“The more devices we can get on the network, the more information we can build on.”
— Steve Williams, Installation & Field Manager
Actionable Step: Get your IT and AV teams in the same room. AV over IP requires close collaboration, not competition, between both groups. Start by aligning on infrastructure goals, management tools, and budget planning to create scalable, supportable systems that serve everyone.
Why will Simplicity, Standardization, and Support Win the Day?
Simplicity, standardization, and support will win the day because organizations in 2026 prioritize intuitive, low-maintenance systems that work for all users with minimal training. It’s not just about buying smarter AV systems; it’s about buying ease of use.
Emerging AV technologies are now judged on:
- How little training they require
- Whether the system “just works” for all users
- How easy it is to standardize and upgrade over time
AV success now looks like:
- Simple user interfaces
- Standardized deployments across multiple rooms
- Proactive support, training, and lifecycle planning
“Technologies that can adapt to room and user conditions without a user having to manually make changes or direct the system are going to become ubiquitous.”
— McKay Clarey, Director of Managed Services
Actionable Step: When planning your next AV investment, ask: “Can this be easily replicated across spaces? Can it be managed without constant user support?” Look for vendors and partners who prioritize standardization, training, and post-install support, not just flashy features.
Should Outdated AV Approaches be Left Behind?
To truly benefit from new technologies and welcome true audio visual innovations, organizations need to let go of old AV habits:
Most importantly, stop asking, ‘what gear do we buy?’ and ask, ‘what experiences do we want to create?’ AV is not an “add-on” it’s a strategic enabler of communication, productivity, and experience.
What are the Emerging AV Technology Opportunities by Industry?
Emerging AV technology opportunities in 2026 center on creating smarter, simpler ways to connect people across healthcare, education, government, and enterprise sectors. Simply put, the pressure to modernize with limited resources isn’t limited to one vertical.
Healthcare
As we analyze AV trends 2026, Healthcare organizations are navigating a perfect storm of aging infrastructure, regulatory demands, and staffing shortages. AV solutions that are secure, AI-powered, and interoperable will be essential. The opportunity lies in creating systems that reduce friction for both clinicians and patients, simplifying workflows without sacrificing compliance.
Think:
- HIPAA-compliant interoperability: Securely connecting disparate telehealth platforms to ensure patient data remains protected while enabling cross-specialty collaboration.
- Voice-activated automation: Allowing clinicians and care teams to operate room controls and start calls hands-free, maintaining sterile environments.
- Virtual Patient Observation: Integrating remote patient monitoring with virtual collaboration tools to allow a single staff member to safely monitor multiple rooms simultaneously.
Education
Institutions need audio visual solutions that support both in-person and hybrid learning without overwhelming their IT teams. The focus is shifting toward scalable, intuitive tools that enhance engagement while remaining easy to support and replicate across campuses.
Think:
- One-Touch Classroom Technology: Simple user interfaces that allow educators to start both in-person and remote streams with a single tap, requiring zero reconfiguration.
- Automated Lecture Capture: Intelligent camera and audio tracking that automatically records and uploads lectures to a central platform for asynchronous student access.
- Standardized Campus Deployments: Low-complexity AV setups that are replicated across every classroom, making it easy for faculty to use any room and for IT to manage the entire campus remotely.
Government
Public agencies are under pressure to modernize outdated systems while navigating tight budgets and strict compliance requirements. Lifecycle planning, platform flexibility, and cost transparency are driving procurement decisions.
Think:
- Compliant Multi-Platform Video: Secure AV solutions that meet federal security standards while allowing agencies to communicate across Zoom, Teams, or Webex platforms.
- Centralized Infrastructure Monitoring: Utilizing AV over IP to proactively monitor system health and security patches from a single dashboard.
- Predictive Lifecycle Planning: Using data-driven insights to plan for equipment refreshes and budget allocations before hardware failure occurs.
Enterprise
As real estate shrinks and remote teams grow, AV systems must support flexible work anytime, anywhere. Organizations want platform-agnostic, user-friendly technology that just works without creating more complexity for IT.
Think:
- BYOD-Ready Meeting Spaces: Universal USB-C connectivity that allows employees to plug in any laptop and instantly take control of the room's professional audio and video.
- Software-Agnostic Integration: Seamlessly switching between Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Webex without needing to reboot hardware or change settings.
- Intelligent Room Adaptation: Audio and video systems that use AI to automatically adjust framing and volume based on the number of people in the room.
The opportunities may look different by sector, but the direction is the same: smarter, simpler, user-first AV that aligns with real-world demands.
How Emerging AV Technologies Come Down to People
Emerging AV technologies ultimately come down to people because the most successful systems are designed around real-world human needs, supported by partners who act as an extension of your team.
The future of AV isn’t just about what gets installed. It’s about how you show up.
- Listening first, and designing for real-world needs
- Building bespoke systems that balance simplicity with future-proofing
- Offering ongoing guidance, not just a handoff after install
- Meeting clients in person, in their spaces, with their teams
- Being the kind of partner who knows the tech and the people using it
In a world full of fast-changing technology, presence, responsiveness, and relationship-building are still what make the biggest difference. That’s why we’re not just watching the industry evolve. We’re helping shape it. One conversation, one install, and one relationship at a time.
Key Takeaways:
- Experience Over Gear: Shift from asking "what gear to buy" to "what experiences do we want to create".
- AI as an Engine: Use AI not as a bonus, but as the core driver for removing friction and achieving meeting equity.
- Unified Collaboration: Prioritize platform-agnostic tools that allow users to join any meeting with one touch.
- IT Alignment: Converge AV and IT teams early to build scalable, networked infrastructure like AV over IP.
- Human Connection: Remember that great AV partners act as an extension of your team, designing for real-world human needs.
FAQ: Getting Started with Emerging AV Technologies
Q: What’s the best way to standardize our AV across locations?
A: Start with a scalable, consistent design template. Standardizing doesn’t mean one-size-fits-all, it means simplifying maintenance and support while planning for growth.
Q: How can we improve the user experience for hybrid meetings?
A: Focus on intuitive interfaces, one-touch platform access, and minimal training requirements. Look for systems that just work with no friction for your users.
Q: How do we future-proof our AV systems?
A: Choose technologies that align with long-term goals: AV over IP, AI-ready infrastructure, USB-C, and cloud-based management tools. Work with a partner who proactively plans lifecycle upgrades.
Q: Where should we start if our AV setup feels outdated?
A: Begin by identifying your biggest pain points. Then build a roadmap based on business outcomes, not just new equipment. Think flexibility, interoperability, and long-term value.
About Interactive Digital Solutions (IDS)
Interactive Digital Solutions is a premier audiovisual integrator dedicated to empowering communications in an ever-evolving world. We specialize in creating seamless, sophisticated AV solutions for healthcare, education, government, and corporate sectors. Our purpose is to create human connections for a shared journey of success, treating every client relationship with honesty and transparency. Whether we are designing the "Patient Room of the Future" or managing global multi-room deployments, we remain big enough to move the needle but small enough to care about your organization's individual needs.
