The iPhone was introduced in 2007. We mention this as a reminder of the speed with which something can go from “an exciting development” to “wait, there was a time before these things?” (If you want to make your head explode, consider that the first BlackBerry pager only appeared in 1999: The Canadian company quickly came to dominate the smartphone space—“Crackberry” was Webster’s New World College Dictionary 2006 Word of the Year—and with equal speed vanished back to Waterloo, Ontario.) 

Here are 2025’s eight software and tech trends poised to have the biggest impact on how we work and how we live in general:

1. Generative and Applied AI 

As noted, some developments enter our consciousness very quickly. Generative AI is definitely one example: ChatGPT was only publicly launched on November 30, 2022. We’re continuing to see how it can automate, augment, and speed up labor processes by generating various forms of content. This should only accelerate as its applications grow more expansive—while large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can only process only a single type of data (in this case, text), multimodal AI can understand information from an array of data types: text, audio, images, video. Simultaneously, applied AI keeps learning, as it solves increasingly complex problems, enables automation, and enhances decision-making. How big will the AI impact be? The IMF estimates AI will ultimately affect nearly 40 percent of jobs worldwide, replacing some, augmenting others. 

2. Quantum Quickens

Quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communications. In each case, they offer potential benefits beyond what’s possible with their classic equivalents— exponentially faster computational speeds, far greater sensitivities, and security levels necessary for secure communications in the quantum era. While we’re still overcoming technical hurdles, once they’re cleared remarkable potential will be unleashed. 

3. Breakthroughs for Health Tech and Biotech

This is one we’re particularly excited about. From wearable health tech to AI-driven diagnostics to mapping of the brain and other organs to potentially bridge editing two pieces of DNA to simply installing better guardrails for compliance, privacy, and security, there are many chances to genuinely improve human quality of life.

4. Increasingly Immersive Reality

You know them: virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), augmented reality (AR), all enabling real-time interactions in 3D virtual worlds. The tipping point for immersive reality becoming a part of everyday life for businesses and consumers has been predicted before… and proved a little overly optimistic. By 2025, will we finally have tipped? Maybe not, but improved software and hardware are creating more and more practical applications not just for gaming, but also training and remote work, making it increasingly important to our work and our leisure. Not to mention it has no bigger backer than Mark Zuckerberg… and he’s doing okay, as his net worth just increased by $56 billion.

5. Modernizing Applications

It’s a perennial need—as long as tech keeps moving forward, eventually software infrastructure must be upgraded to modern standards. (At least, it must if a company wants to remain competitive.) The potential benefits are substantial: Greater efficiency, security, and scalability; less wasted time and money; happier customers, and a healthier bottom line.

6. Digital Trust/Cybersecurity

Sad to say, but cybercrimes only continue to grow in scale. (Witness the theft of nearly three billion records in a National Public Data breach.) Quite simply, organizations of all kinds need to earn digital trust, proving to stakeholders that they’re maintaining security even as they build and scale. Encryption, data safeguards, and threat detection remain essential. Other important developments include increasing facial recognition adoption and improved access management. AI stands to be an extremely valuable tool as a way to assess and recognize security risks immediately.

7. Going Beyond 5G

Cellular networks may have just reached 5G… but there’s already recognition of the need to keep going. It’s a simple pattern: As applications continue to grow more advanced, the network powering them needs to as well. (And yes, this will result in a network well ahead of most consumers—5G connections aren’t expected to become a majority of mobile connections until 2029.)

8. Energy and Climate Technologies

One downside of generative AI? The computing processes required to run it take a lot of energy. Where will the power come from to meet our new energy needs, not mention all our current ones, at prices that won’t totally disrupt industries? Through a mix of renewable sources (for instance, solar and wind power); clean firm sources (nuclear and hydrogen); sustainable fuels (such as second-generation biofuels made from straw or other types of agricultural waste); and the discovery of cost-effective ways to offset the negative impact of other forms of consumption. There is also a focus on improving energy storage/distribution, so we can maximize the fuel we have.