2026 Trends to Watch: Applied AI

Eden Zoller

Chief Analyst, Applied AI

Eden has been immersed in digital media services and tech for over 20 years, focusing on strategy, innovation, monetization, and future trends. Eden’s primary focus is applied AI, specializing in generative AI, AI impacts on consumer services and industry verticals, responsible AI, and AI governance. Initiatives driven by Eden include the development of Omdia’s AI Maturity Assessment tool, a Big Tech Benchmark, an AI Innovation Tracker, Omdia’s rolling consumer AI survey program, an ongoing assessment of AI impacts across key verticals including games, TV & video, and commerce. Eden manages workshops and consultancy projects in the above areas, providing tailored advice and market intelligence.

Eden is a frequent media commentator and speaker at industry events, is a long-standing judge for the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards, is an independent advisory board member for AI4ME, and is studying for a Masters in AI ethics at the University of Cambridge. Before her career as an analyst, Eden was a journalist and editor for a string of respected industry publications.

Lian Jye Su

Chief Analyst

Lian Jye is a chief analyst at Omdia, responsible for the orchestration of applied intelligence market research in the Asia & Oceania region. He provides strategic guidance and business intelligence on AI infrastructure, software, and services. Lian Jye is widely quoted in the press and media on various AI- and robotics-related topics including on CNN, the BBC, CNBC, The Straits Times, and Nikkei Asian Review. 
 
Prior to joining Omdia, Lian Jye worked in the research industry for nine years having started as a junior analyst covering cellular telecommunications technologies. In recent years, he has functioned as research director of AI and robotics, leading market intelligence services covering global market development and technological trends in robotics and AI hardware, software, and services. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Melbourne.

Alexander Harrowell

Principal Analyst, Advanced Computing for AI

Alexander covers the market for semiconductors as it relates to AI and machine learning. This includes GPUs, dedicated AI ASICs and ASSPs, FPGAs, and future technologies, as well as companies such as Arm, NVIDIA, Cerebras Systems, Hailo, and Ambarella. He can help you with market forecasting, technology strategy, and positioning.

Starting as a journalist at Mobile Communications International magazine, Alexander has 17 years’ experience. Since joining Omdia in 2016, Alexander has covered technologies for small and medium enterprises, with a focus on mobile and, more recently, 5G for enterprises. He developed the Omdia Enterprise 5G Innovations Tracker to monitor the emerging enterprise 5G and CBRS ecosystem. He was the second employee of start-up consulting firm STL Partners, where he worked on mobile, open source, distributed computing, and the two-sided business model.

Natalia Modjeska

Research Director, AI and Intelligent Automation

Natalia Modjeska leads the AI & IA research team at Omdia. She has 15+ years of experience in developing and deploying analytics and AI. Her diverse career includes R&D, product and program management, sales, consulting, and client advisory. She has worked with organizations of all sizes and levels of maturity across many industries and geographies helping clients to harness the power of data, advanced analytics and AI for transformative change. She has advised 200+ organizations around the globe on topics ranging from AI strategy and use cases, to execution, best practices, governance, ethics, emerging trends, and vendor due diligence.

Natalia is passionate about helping clients to demystify AI/ML and to deploy these technologies responsibly. As part of that effort, she serves as an expert on the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 - AI Standards working group and she volunteers with several non-profits to develop responsible AI certification; increase AI literacy and improve government through innovative technologies. Natalia holds a PhD in AI (NLP) from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and an Executive MBA from the Ivey School of Business (Western University).

Neil Dunay

Principal Market Forecaster

Neil Dunay is Principal Market Forecaster, forecasting on enterprise technology, particularly for AI and other emerging technologies. His focus is on leveraging statistical tools to discover interrelationships among technological, economic, demographic, and sales trends that drive market evolution.

Neil joined Omdia in March 2020, following more than 20 years of experience researching ICT markets. Before joining Omdia, he was an engagement manager at International Planning and Research in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he assisted leading global technology companies in their strategic planning decisions by estimating their technology product market positions and forecasting market opportunities. Before IPR, Neil was a telecommunications industry analyst for KMI/PennWell in Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, where he estimated and forecast markets for fiber-optic cable and optoelectronic equipment for telecom clients. Neil holds a Master of Arts in international economics from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.