Modeling sequential data for forecasting, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance. By 2026, time-series foundation models (TimesFM, Chronos, Moirai) sit a
Time-series skill forecasts the operational world: demand, capacity, prices, sensor streams. The 2026 toolkit spans classical methods, gradient boosting, and foundation models for time series: with the craft in validation honesty (backtesting without leakage) and uncertainty communication.
Steady operational value: supply chains, energy, finance, and capacity planning all run on forecasts, and practitioners who beat naive baselines honestly remain rarer than claimed.
No: numeric forecasting remains its own discipline, though time-series foundation models now join the toolkit. LLMs help around the edges: feature ideation, report narration, anomaly explanation.
Leakage and vanity baselines: validating with future information, or beating a strawman instead of seasonal-naive. Rigorous backtesting discipline is the entire credibility of the craft.