Gold price at $10,000, quantum computing breakthroughs causing panic, AI triggering a comprehensive crisis... This investment bank's "outrageous" prediction for 2026 has arrived

Danish investment bank Saxo Bank continues its tradition of over 20 years by releasing its "Outrageous Predictions" list for 2026, covering scenarios such as panic triggered by quantum computing, gold prices soaring to $10,000, and an AI automation crisis.

On December 2, it was reported that Saxo Bank's Chief Market Strategist John Hardy stated that some of the "outrageous predictions" for 2025 are already showing signs of coming true. One prediction regarding Trump's tariff policy impacting the dollar is being realized: the dollar has fallen 8% this year, on track for its worst performance since 2017, with the expanding fiscal deficit and concerns over the Federal Reserve's independence being the two main reasons for the dollar's weakness at the beginning of the year.

Another prediction states that NVIDIA's market value will reach twice that of Apple, although this has not fully materialized, the chipmaker's market value has risen by 34% to $4.37 trillion, surpassing Apple's $4.18 trillion. These cases provide a reference framework for the "outrageous predictions" of 2026.

The latest "outrageous predictions" released by the bank for 2026 include breakthroughs in quantum computing, gold prices soaring to $10,000, and large-scale failures of AI systems, with each scenario detailing potential impact paths on the market.

According to reports, Saxo Bank's "Outrageous Predictions" series is an annual report that includes a series of forecasts described as "unlikely to happen but would have a huge impact on financial markets if they did."

These predictions do not represent Saxo Bank's official stance but aim to remind investors to consider overlooked possibilities. The predictions for 2025 include "Trump 2.0" destroying the dollar, NVIDIA's market value exceeding twice that of Apple, natural disasters leading to the bankruptcy of large insurance companies, and electrification causing the disintegration of OPEC.

Quantum Computing Breakthrough Triggers Financial Panic

According to reports, Saxo Bank strategist Neil Wilson predicts that quantum computers will break through faster than expected, triggering panic in financial markets.

In this scenario, investors would pour cash into safe-haven assets like silver and gold, driving gold prices up to $10,000. Stocks related to quantum computing, such as IBM and cybersecurity companies, will experience significant volatility.

AI Automation Crisis

Saxo Bank's Head of Investment Strategy Jacob Falkencrone predicts that by 2026, agent-based AI systems will be used to optimize, automate, and connect nearly everything, until a series of failures trigger a full-blown crisis.

Specific scenarios include: algorithm errors triggering market flash crashes, the discovery of widespread AI-driven accounting violations, and robots running erroneous AI instructions in factories leading to casualties.

This trillion-dollar cleanup operation will cause revenues for cybersecurity, auditing, and consulting firms to soar, as these companies are responsible for fixing, protecting, and streamlining codebases. The valuations of highly autonomous AI platforms will come under pressure, and investors will turn to companies that provide resilience, oversight, and human control.

Other Outrageous Predictions

Saxo Bank's 2026 prediction list also includes other scenarios:

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding saves the global economy;

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections proceed smoothly, triggering trends of unity and civility;

Weight loss drugs become widely popular, even used for pets;

SpaceX announces IPO;

Fortune 500 companies appoint AI models as CEOs