Every year at this time, the well-respected analyst group Gartner releases its list of the top 10 strategic technology trends for the upcoming year. Last year, one of the trends identified for 2024 was AI-augmented development, which we have discussed extensively on ZDNET. Now, just in time for its annual gathering in Orlando, Gartner has unveiled its 10 strategic trends for 2025. It is important to note that these trends are not mandates for your company, but rather areas of innovation, activity, and opportunity to be aware of. For example, Gartner highlights new computing technologies such as optical, neuromorphic, and novel accelerators as underlying technologies for energy-efficient and hybrid computing. These technologies, along with Gartner’s 10 trends for 2025, should be kept in mind as you plan your business’s strategic initiatives. Let’s explore Gartner’s top trends for 2025:
1. Agentic AI: AI with agents that can make autonomous decisions.
2. AI governance platforms: Frameworks for managing trust, accountability, and legal and ethical aspects of AI systems.
3. Disinformation security: Systems to combat harmful misinformation and maintain integrity.
4. Postquantum cryptography: Developing encryption techniques that can withstand the power of quantum computing.
5. Ambient invisible intelligence: Smart tags and sensors managed by AI to create awareness in various environments.
6. Energy-efficient computing: Technologies like optical, neuromorphic, and novel accelerators to reduce energy consumption in AI-related tasks.
These trends are shaping the future of technology and business, and staying informed and prepared is key to navigating the evolving landscape.