Gold prices have surged to record highs at the start of 2026, hovering near $5,000, with an artificial intelligence (AI) model suggesting further upside.
Over the past year, gold has been among the best-performing assets, driven by strong macroeconomic, financial, and geopolitical forces.
Despite periodic overbought signals, prices have remained resilient, with consolidation replacing sharp pullbacks, pointing to strong underlying demand. Aggressive central bank buying, particularly from emerging markets, has provided structural support, while private investment flows have risen as investors seek protection from economic uncertainty.
At the same time, expectations of lower real interest rates and potential rate cuts later in 2026 have further boosted gold’s appeal, alongside persistent inflation concerns and fiscal uncertainty.
Notably, gold ended the last session trading at $4,987, up over 1% on the day, while in 2026, the yellow metal has rallied more than 15%.
To determine how gold might trade by the end of the quarter, Finbold turned to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which projects that gold will maintain its upward bias through the first quarter of 2026, though with moderated momentum compared to the explosive gains seen earlier.
Gold price prediction
According to ChatGPT, gold is expected to end Q1 2026 at approximately $5,150 per ounce, with a projected trading range between $4,950 and $5,350.
This prediction is based on several factors. First, current price action near $5,000 suggests consolidation rather than exhaustion, indicating the market is absorbing gains rather than reversing.
Second, strong buying interest below the $4,900 level points to firm support, limiting the scope for deep pullbacks.
Third, while macroeconomic conditions remain supportive, the relatively short time frame of Q1 reduces the likelihood of an unchecked parabolic move.
Finally, psychological price dynamics suggest that once a major round number such as $5,000 is approached, prices often overshoot before stabilizing. ChatGPT expects gold to trade in a choppy but constructive range through February, followed by a push above $5,100 in March before mild investor profit-taking toward the end of the quarter.
Risks to this outlook include a sharp shift toward risk-on sentiment or unexpectedly restrictive monetary policy, which could pressure prices lower, as well as renewed geopolitical shocks that could accelerate gains beyond current expectations.
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