Top technology trends 2025

Further development of artificial intelligence but also more energy-efficient computing and disinformation security are among the top ten technology trends for 2025, according to market research firm Gartner. 

“This year’s top strategic technology trends span AI imperatives and risks, new frontiers of computing and human-machine synergy,” says Gene Alvarez, analyst at the company. 

The forecast for 2025:

Agentic AI
Agentic AI systems autonomously plan and take actions to meet user-defined goals. A virtual workforce that can offload and augment human work. The company predicts that by 2028, at least 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI, up from 0% in 2024. “The goal-driven capabilities of this technology will deliver more adaptable software systems, capable of completing a wide variety of tasks.”

AI Governance Platforms
AI governance platforms can create, manage and enforce policies for responsible AI use, explain how AI systems work and provide transparency to build trust and accountability. By 2028, organisations that implement comprehensive AI governance platforms are predicted to experience 40% fewer AI-related ethical incidents compared to those without such systems.

Disinformation Security
By 2028, 50% of enterprises are predicted to begin adopting products, services or features designed specifically to address disinformation security use cases, up from less than 5% today.

Postquantum Cryptography
As quantum computing developments have progressed over the last several years, it is expected there will be an end to several types of conventional cryptography that is widely used. It is not easy to switch cryptography methods so organisations must have a longer lead time to ready themselves for robust protection of anything sensitive or confidential. By 2029, advances in quantum computing are predicted to make most conventional asymmetric cryptography unsafe to use.

Ambient Invisible Intelligence
Ambient invisible intelligence is enabled by ultra-low cost, small smart tags and sensors which will deliver large-scale affordable tracking and sensing. In the long term, ambient invisible intelligence will enable a deeper integration of sensing and intelligence into everyday life. Through 2027, early examples of ambient invisible intelligence will focus on solving immediate problems, such as retail stock checking or perishable goods logistics, by enabling low-cost, real-time tracking and sensing of items to improve visibility and efficiency.

Energy-Efficient Computing
Compute-intensive applications such as AI training, simulation, optimisation and media rendering, are likely to be the biggest contributors to organisations’ carbon footprint as they consume the most energy. It is expected that starting in the late 2020s, several new compute technologies, such as optical, neuromorphic and novel accelerators, will emerge for special purpose tasks, such as AI and optimisation, which will use significantly less energy.

Hybrid Computing
Hybrid computing combines different compute, storage and network mechanisms to solve computational problems. Hybrid computing will be used to create highly efficient transformative innovation environments that perform more effectively than conventional environments.

Spatial Computing
Spatial computing digitally enhances the physical world with technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality. This is the next level of interaction between physical and virtual experiences. The use of spatial computing will increase organisations’ effectiveness in the next five to seven years through streamlined workflows and enhanced collaboration. By 2033, spatial computing is expected to grow to $1.7 trillion, up from $110 billion in 2023.

Polyfunctional Robots
The functionality of these new robots improve efficiency and provide a faster return on investments. Polyfunctional robots are designed to operate in a world with humans which will make for fast deployment and easy scalability. By 2030, 80% of humans are expected to engage with smart robots on a daily basis, up from less than 10% today.

Neurological Enhancement
Neurological enhancement improves human cognitive abilities using technologies that read and decode brain activity. By 2030, Gartner predicts 30% of knowledge workers will be enhanced by, and dependent on, technologies such as bidirectional brain-machine interfaces (both employer-and-self-funded) to stay relevant with the rise of AI in the workplace, up from less than 1% in 2024.