The world is losing its certainties: Expensive living, artificial intelligence, and distrust are changing the everyday reality for millions of people.

PRAGUE – The world is entering a period of rapid change, not only in international politics and economics, but also in the way people work, access information, and make decisions about their future. Rising living costs, concerns about armed conflicts, the rise of artificial intelligence, and declining trust in traditional media are creating a common problem that transcends national borders and political divides. The fundamental question of our time is: Who can offer people real answers in a time when long-held certainties are rapidly disappearing?

The economic situation remains one of the most significant sources of social concern. According to a Gallup poll published in February 2026, people in 107 countries identified the economy as the most important problem facing their country. The median percentage of respondents who gave this answer was 23 percent. Behind these abstract indicators of economic growth lie concrete questions: Can households afford housing? Can young people afford to start a family? Will work provide sufficient security in the years to come?

Another key factor is artificial intelligence. Technologies that were once seen as a distant future are now impacting education, administration, media, and industry. They can increase productivity and open up new possibilities, but at the same time, they raise questions about job security, privacy, and the concentration of economic power. It will not only be the speed of technological development that matters, but also the ability of society to establish clear rules.

Special attention should be paid to the crisis of trust

The Institute for the Study of Journalism, in its Digital News Report 2026, states that trust in news has reached 37 percent across the markets surveyed, the lowest level since measurements began in 2015. The survey covered 48 markets. The report also highlights the growing importance of social networks, video platforms, and artificial intelligence tools in accessing information.

This is a crucial challenge for the media. Simply publishing information quickly is no longer enough. Readers need to know where the information comes from, what is a verified fact, and what is merely an interpretation or a political statement. In an environment where true news is mixed with manipulation, transparency and the ability to admit uncertainty are becoming important components of trustworthy journalism.

At the same time, international cooperation is becoming increasingly important. Wars, trade disputes, energy security, and climate change do not stop at national borders. No major power can afford to ignore the economic and security ties that connect different regions.

The biggest question is not whether the world will change. It is already changing. The important thing is who will manage these changes, who will bear the costs, and whether the benefits will reach ordinary people. The answers to these questions will determine public trust, the stability of democracy, and the shape of the international order in the years to come.

Sources: Gallup, World’s Most Important Problem Report 2026; Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Digital News Report 2026.

Jan Vojtěch, Editor-in-Chief of General News