Future-Proofing Your 2025
The Tech Trends You Need to Know
For the past 10 years, I’ve scoured the internet and tapped into my own experience in the tech world to look ahead into the coming year.
This year, with the help of Large Language Models like Google’s Gemini, it initially looked like an easy task.
“Scan the internet to find the top 2025 tech trends and summarize with links to the sources.”
Gemini was quick to spit out the tech trends for 2025 and via Grounding even provided relevant links for me to verify the info. But of course, I had to add my 2 cents! Below you'll find my curated list of tech trends, with my own understanding of it. These trends are based on publicly available info from Gartner, technologymagazine.com, cisco.com, fdmgroup.com, simplilearn.com, forbes.com, theverge.com and plainconcepts.com.
I would say that Gartner has most impact, I found most articles that I found in a few extra searches to often stay very close to what Gartner predicts. So here’s also the Gartner Keynote, that I found interesting to watch:
Enjoy and let me know what you think!
AI
In short, AI will continue to be a big topic in 2025. The initial hype is over, we will see some experiments stopped but also a lot of new developments such as below.
Agentic AI: Instead of just responding to prompts, AI is evolving into intelligent agents that can autonomously perform complex tasks, like managing supply chains, or analyzing financial trends. This means AI will be more proactive and less reactive, working independently to achieve specific goals. AI will call APIs for us and the User Interfaces (UIs) that we are used to - Browsers, Apps - might loose in importance. Voice combined with AI Agents could be the future.
AI Governance Platforms: As AI takes on more responsibility, platforms are needed to manage risks, ensure ethical practices, and handle data responsibly. These platforms will help companies deploy AI safely and fairly.
Cybersecurity / Disinformation Security: With increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, the need for advanced cybersecurity measures increases. At the same time, we need to be aware of the threat of disinformation, using AI to create false information. We need technology to both combat and also to identify it.
Related to AI and a bit concerning (to me) is the new interest in nuclear data centers. AI data centers consume so much energy, now private companies such as Microsoft are interested in buying carbon-free nuclear energy. Microsoft apparently enters into a 20-year agreement... Is it a good idea?
New Computing
Quantum Computing and therefore Post-Quantum Cryptography: Quantum computing is making strides, offering unparalleled processing power. This also brings a need for new cryptography methods that can withstand attacks from quantum computers. The idea of Post-Quantum Cryptography is to be able to resist both classical and quantum computers.
Green Cloud / Energy Efficient Computing: As awareness of our carbon footprint grows, there is a demand for computing solutions that are more energy efficient. Green Cloud encompasses technologies and strategies to reduce energy consumption of data centers. I found it interesting that there is now new interest in algorithms, but instead of optimizing for speed they are now optimized for reduced energy usage. More computing with less energy is the goal.
Hybrid Computing: Companies are increasingly mixing cloud and on-premises infrastructure and even edge computing to gain flexibility and reliability. Hybrid computing offers more control over data and resources, and is especially good for mission-critical applications. Will there be an end to the growth of cloud computing? Will some power and processing come back to the edge?
Ambient Invisible Intelligence: This concept involves technology seamlessly integrated into our environment providing useful info without us being aware of its existence. One example includes smart inventory management in warehouses due to ultra low cost RFID tagging, but can also extend to smart homes. These RFID chips are now coming down in price, companies like Gartner recommend to experiment and invest early. Which kind of turns this (and other predictions) into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Human & Machine Synergy
Spatial Computing: Spatial computing blends digital content with the physical world to create interactive experiences via technologies like VR and AR, enhancing productivity and collaboration. While Apple’s Vision Pro is not selling well, it for sure has set a new standard in the spatial category. Will there be a cheaper Vision Pro in 2025, what will HTC and Meta come up with?
Polyfunctional Robots: Robots are becoming more versatile and capable of performing many different tasks. They may soon become partners in the workplace, capable of helping humans in many different tasks. Different to robots that we’re used to, e.g. in an highly specialized industrial setting, polyfunctional robots are able to learn to complete new tasks. I wonder if that also means a more human-like form factor, as the world that we know was built for us humans. Think of a home setting, with cupboards etc at human height - it requires a human-like form factor. But is walking the best way to move around?
Neurological Enhancement: Technologies that interact with the brain to improve cognitive function or sensory abilities are starting to emerge, raising interesting opportunities and also raising ethical considerations. Neuro-feedback, Neuralink and Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) have been on my past year’s mindmaps. Will 2025 be the year we see major breakthroughs? Interestingly, this year I did not read much about curing disabilities - the focus seems to be on improving knowledge workers. Mmmh…
Gartner notes that by 2030: "30% of knowledge workers will be enhanced by technologies such as bidirectional brain-machine interfaces (BBMIs)," up from less than 1% in 2024. Source: Technology Magazine.
Tech Gadgets on the Horizon
Besides these big buckets, I was also checking with TheVerge for the more Gadget-oriented tech trends. Watch the video below and see my quick summary here.
Personal Health Tech: Wearable health devices, like smartwatches, are reaching a level of sophistication that makes them excellent for health monitoring. With the help of AI, they can provide valuable insights and help you monitor and identify health trends.
EV Cars getting cheaper: The prospect of more affordable EV cars could bring a breakthrough in adoption. It could bring the much needed change of moving away from gas-based infrastructure to electric infrastructure. It remains to be seen how this affects us globally - with taxes coming from China imports in the US, we might see a spiral of protective tax-legislation.
Door Locks: The new standard Aliro could revolutionize how we interact with doors. With a tap of a smartphone, you can unlock doors, potentially replacing traditional keys. Google, Apple and Samsung have teamed up, which is why it will most likely really happen.
Smartphones & AI: Apple, Google and Samsung are integrating more AI features into their smartphones. It raises a question of whether your phone will soon become your personal AI assistant.
Blockchain
My personal favorite – blockchain – was at least mentioned on spot 9 out of 25 by simplilearn.com. I think we have clearly entered the era of utility and have gone far beyond cryptocurrency. Blockchain is coming; industries are adopting it for transparency, enhanced security, and reduced fraud. But it’s now in a slower and more evolutionary phase of the hype cycle. And it remains to be seen how much blockchain is entering our everyday consumer lives. For me personally, collecting NFTs and unlocking rewards or in-game assets with theses remains a fun and worthwhile thing to do. I love to be part of the Web3 community and will continue to try out new web3 applications in 2025.
Are We Getting Rid of Ourselves?
Seeing the advancements in AI and Robotics, I could not help but think that we’re really starting to get rid of ourselves... now even knowledge workers are not safe. But then I found it interesting that FDM Group expects tech hiring growth in 2025. Interestingly, skills at the intersection of tech and business seem to be the hot thing. "Skills such as stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution will be as critical as mastering digital tools." These are surprisingly soft skills. AI becomes the collaborator and Garth Newboult, Delivery Director FDM Consulting Services stresses, that project managers can now drive innovation rather than just tracking timelines. So maybe there's still hope?
Where’s Sustainability?
Ok, Sustainability is not exactly a ‘tech trend’. But while trends like energy-efficient computing, green cloud, and EV cars are positive steps, they feel inadequate given the reality of our climate crisis and the 1.5-degree warming threshold. The rapid rise of AI and its energy-hungry data centers threatens to overshadow these gains. Are we simply shifting the burden, rather than addressing core issues? Where is the commitment to a tech-supported circular economy that focuses on longevity and responsible disposal, or innovations in more sustainable materials? Furthermore, it seems that every jurisdiction hesitates to take the lead in mandating green practices, fearing a disadvantage for their local economy. The tech world must move beyond incremental improvements towards true regeneration and minimal environmental impact.
The most pressing question is: when will global regulations (global = will never happen?) mandate green computing and accountability across all aspects of the tech sector? Voluntary efforts are insufficient. The scale of climate change demands a systemic shift driven by enforceable policies.
Governments worldwide must recognize that the future of tech must be fundamentally green, not just in its marketing. However, what if cutting-edge tech, powered by green energy and advancements in the circular economy, could also be a major business opportunity? Perhaps the solution lies in combining technological innovation with circular principles and renewable energy, which not only reduces our environmental impact but also creates new and sustainable business models.
It's time to act with urgency and use our ingenuity to build a truly sustainable and regenerative tech future, making sure the innovations of 2025 contribute to solutions, rather than further exacerbating the problem.
Comments?
Thanks Sven, a quick read with a good overview. Some of the mentioned topics like agentic AI have great potential but might come with socioeconomic risks. This seems like a good topic for the next sauna session.