These are the trends of 2025
A look at AI, societal debate and solutions for the climate crisis.
Hey there,
Firstly: best wishes for the new year! 🥂
2024 was a turbulent year with wars, Trump's election, and an unleashed Tadej Pogačar 🚴♂️, among other things.
What's coming our way in 2025? As every year, I write an article about the (technological) trends to watch for in the coming year.
In this newsletter, I'll share the 3 most important (tech) trends of 2025.
Enjoy reading,
Peter
PS. I also made a video about this, in case you prefer watching to reading:
For English subtitles: select the icon of a sprocket (settings), and then subtitles. 🇺🇸
The trends of 2025
What are the most relevant and exciting trends for 2025? I have a great fascination with technological developments, such as artificial intelligence. But technology isn't the only relevant factor.
In this newsletter, I highlight 3 trends:
AI in 2025;
Societal impact of technology;
Wizarding prophets.
If you're curious about more context and interpretation of the trends, read my article: These are the (technological) trends of 2025.
Trend 1: AI in 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a role in all my lectures. For example, in my keynotes Trends 2040 or innovation.
There are several fascinating directions for AI in 2025 and beyond. In my article, you can read more about AI agents and the deeper impact of AI on new materials and medicines.
In this newsletter, I'll delve deeper into speech recognition. 👇
Speech Recognition with Added Value
The application I encounter most in my work is speech recognition. Instead of typing reports or notifications, you speak them into your phone or computer. The spoken text is then converted into sentences in a report or notification.
A good example where this application can really add value is with fault reports. I spoke about this with Chris van den Belt, head of product development at IFS Ultimo.
This company provides enterprise asset management (EAM) software. In this software, you manage planning, maintenance, and replacement of assets such as machines, devices, servers, generators, cars, conveyor belts, and offices. IFS Ultimo's clients include airports, factories, and hospitals.
Bottleneck
When it comes to malfunctions, what's the main bottleneck? Chris:
"Technicians spend most of their time inventorying the malfunction. Not solving it."
This usually happens because the colleague reporting the malfunction has little time or inclination to provide the report as extensively as possible. Why? Because that employee is also busy with other work. This is where artificial intelligence, particularly speech recognition, can add value.
"By speaking a report instead of typing it, the reporter often provides more information. Then the technician spends less time figuring out what's wrong."
Trend 2: Societal Impact
Besides various applications around artificial intelligence, I notice in the media and during my lectures that there are more conversations about the societal impact of technology.
Think about AI sustainability, privacy, the use of such applications by hackers and criminals, and the growing power of technology companies.
Tenor About Technology Changes
After an event in Leiden in September 2024, I could better place this trend. The Brave New World conference took place there.
I've found this conference an excellent place to pick up signals of change for years. This is because the organizers make bold choices about speakers and topics. The speakers are often outspoken scientists, provocative artists, or visionary start-up entrepreneurs.
During the break, I spoke with director Alexander Mouret about the conference themes over the years. His observation:
Ten years ago, the tenor was that technology would solve many problems. The vibe was very optimistic. This has shifted; now it's increasingly about the disadvantages and risks of technology.
I'm curious whether this will continue in 2025, or if the view of technology and progress will become somewhat more optimistic again.
Trend 3: Wizarding Prophets
In addressing the climate crisis and related problems, according to author Charles Mann, there are two paradigms:
Wizards think we'll find solutions through science and technology;
Prophets think that we as humans must also change: consume less, fly less, etc.
Is it possible to connect both worldviews? That we get prophetic wizards? Or wizarding prophets?
Inspiration at Dutch Design Week
An inspiring place where I hope to find such a mix is the Dutch Design Week (DDW) in Eindhoven.
The DDW takes place throughout Eindhoven and is considered one of Europe's largest design festivals. During DDW, there are exhibitions by designers, artists, and scientists, alongside lectures and workshops.
Like previous years, I visited DDW in October 2024. Here are some projects that stood out:
Carbyon is a Dutch start-up developing Direct Air Capture machines that can capture CO2 from the air.
Releaf makes bioplastic from plants like corn and sugar cane, and from plant waste.
Vattenfall asked designers for ideas to reuse wind turbines in different ways, such as in the form of a tiny house.
I'm curious whether these projects will really make an impact in 2025 and beyond.
Deep Dive on AI & Work
Articles, books, podcasts, videos, documentaries, and more on this theme.
1. READ / The best non-fiction book I read in 2024: Same as Ever by Morgan Housel. In my August newsletter, you can read why it had such a profound impact on my work as a futurist.
2. READ / The best fiction book I read in 2024: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. This book is the first of the epic series, The Stormlight Archive.
I find it a fantasy series with an unusual world that deviates from traditional fantasy. Additionally: magic works in a clever way, the world is excellently described, and the plot twists keep surprising.
3. WATCH / A series I'm really looking forward to in 2025 is the new season of Severance on Apple TV (8.7 on IMDb).
Without revealing too much: in this series, you follow office workers whose memories during work hours are disconnected from their private time. So during work, they have no idea who they are in their free time, and vice versa.
Season 1 is fantastic, I can't wait for season 2.
🙏 Thank you for reading
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