DNA's annual Technology Trend Report is here again, offering us a glimpse into the year ahead. The 2024 trend list included smart dust, the world's first digital nation, and quantum security. This year, we'll witness the expectations towards artificial intelligence become reality, the transformation of information security and cyber resilience, and even more sustainable development.
DNA's Technology Trend Report 2025 consists of 12 trends that will shape our future, and four expert interviews that dive deeper into the trends. What exactly does empathetic AI do? How will the information security field look in 2025? What kind of innovations will take place in working life?
In this article, we briefly introduce four technology trends we have predicted. You can read the full introductions and the rest of the trends by downloading the free Technology Trends 2025 report.
Empathetic AI makes people feel heard and understood
Empathetic AI is a general term for AI systems designed with emotional intelligence embedded as a core tenet. According to industry leaders, leveraging emotionally intelligent AI will soon become crucial for businesses looking to optimise customer interactions and improve internal processes.
Empathetic AI models are also trained to operate with greater transparency and openness. Instead of providing incorrect or misleading information, emotionally intelligent AIs can indicate when they lack sufficient information to respond. Acknowledging errors and limitations is a key component of human interaction. Industry experts have noted that one of the most important qualities of empathetic AIs is their ability to admit they don't have all the answers. This skill remains surprisingly challenging for many of today's AI systems.
Humanoid robot development is ramping up – but robots won't be replacing experts
The market for humanoid robots is expected to grow enormously over the next decade. The primary development drivers are the advancements in generative AI and decreasing production costs. By 2035, the market value of humanoid robots is projected to grow sixfold, reaching approximately 40 billion.
Humanoid robots can be utilised in industries such as manufacturing and healthcare, and to benefit households. They can serve in both monitoring and operational roles. Humanoid robots, guided by adaptive, learning-based AI, are capable of physically demanding tasks, as they do not experience fatigue like their human counterparts.
The cybersecurity ecosystem requires rapid renewal
In July 2024, cybersecurity company CrowdStrike released an update for its widely used Falcon platform. This initiated a chain reaction that tested the cyber resilience of systems worldwide.
A bug embedded in the update's code caused countless information systems to crash quickly and in totality. Airports, banks, hospitals, and many other zones essential to national infrastructure were suddenly brought to their knees. When the dust settled, the losses amounted to billions, but even more alarming was how many critical systems had proven to be vulnerable.
From competence development to learning management
In today's digitalised work environment, learning has become increasingly self-directed. Expected skill sets continue to expand and fragment throughout various expert positions. The modern work landscape also brings time sensitivity to the equation, as people are expected to acquire new skills and competencies at an ever-accelerating pace.
One of the key trends in near future will be the ability to lead employee learning and build learning infrastructures that support the company's strategic objectives. The challenge is substantial, as these infrastructures must be designed to align with the company's current state, future goals, and the endless sway of evolving job descriptions while providing employees with enough autonomy to learn at a personalised level in meaningful and efficient ways.
Interested in a deep dive into tomorrow's trends? Download the Technology Trends 2025 report!
