Although even artificial intelligence cannot yet foresee the future, two tech editors have shared their predictions for trends likely to dominate in 2025.
Cryptocurrency’s New Ally in the White House?
At the end of 2022, the cryptocurrency market faced significant challenges. One of its most prominent companies, FTX, collapsed, leaving $8 billion, or £6.3 billion, of customer funds unaccounted for. In March 2024, Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding investors and clients.
This scandal shook the entire cryptocurrency industry and made it seem like cryptocurrencies would remain a niche interest with a small but loyal community. However, by late 2024, optimism surged once again. The source of this renewed enthusiasm? Donald Trump’s victory in the 5 November 2024 presidential election. Many believed Trump would be more supportive of the crypto sector, and early signs suggest they were right.
In December, Trump announced plans to nominate Paul Atkins, a former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commissioner, as the SEC’s chairman. Atkins is seen as more crypto-friendly than Gary Gensler, the outgoing chairman. This news sparked a dramatic rise in Bitcoin’s value, pushing it past $100,000.
“With Trump in office, we can expect proactive policies and the removal of restrictive regulations, enabling banks and institutions to join the crypto space,” said Geoffrey Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered.
Kendrick pointed to SEC guidance known as SAB 121, which has made it difficult for financial institutions to offer crypto services since 2022. If the new administration removes this barrier, it could help Trump fulfill his pledge to make the U.S. the global leader in cryptocurrency. This would mark a significant shift from 2021 when Trump famously referred to Bitcoin as a “scam.”
AI Gets Personal
AI technology is increasingly becoming a key part of our everyday lives, with major companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung introducing tools to edit photos, translate languages, and perform web searches. This marks the beginning of a new era where AI integrates deeply into our digital routines, offering personalized assistance.
However, fully embracing AI requires trust. For example, an AI-powered tool could manage your schedule more efficiently if it had access to your calendar. But would you also want it to know which meetings you’d prefer to avoid or secrets you’d like to keep hidden?
There are even more personal implications. Should an AI provide summaries of counseling sessions or medical appointments? Such sensitive information could be extremely embarrassing or damaging if mishandled or exposed. Microsoft, for instance, faced backlash in 2024 for demonstrating a tool called “Recall,” which captured snapshots of laptop desktops to help users find misplaced content. Though the tool never launched, Microsoft has since revised the concept.
Despite these concerns, Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s head of AI, is optimistic. “We’re entering a new era where AI will act as ever-present, highly capable companions in our daily lives,” he said.
Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, believes 2025 will see the rise of more personalized AI services. These tools could tailor their output using data from emails, messages, and social media, adapting to individual communication styles and preferences.
However, Wood acknowledges that sharing personal information with AI is a big leap. “Trust will be critical,” he said.
Data on the Move
As AI technology advances, the demand for data centers is skyrocketing. Training and running AI systems require immense computing power, often relying on cutting-edge chips and servers. Over the next five years, investments in data centers could reach $1 trillion, primarily driven by companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta.
According to property firm Savills, data center capacity in Europe is expected to grow by an average of 9% annually between 2024 and 2028. However, due to high property costs and limited electricity supplies, the next wave of data center construction is likely to shift away from traditional hubs like London, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam.
Instead, cities such as Cambridge, Manchester, and Birmingham in the UK, as well as Prague, Munich, Genoa, and Milan in Europe, may become key locations for new facilities.
Nvidia’s latest chip, the Blackwell, unveiled in March 2024, will be at the heart of these data centers. According to Vivek Arya, a senior semiconductor analyst at Bank of America Securities, this chip is expected to significantly improve AI performance, enabling training up to four times faster and operational speeds 30 times greater than current chips.
However, supply may be limited in 2025, with major companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Coreweave likely to receive priority access. Smaller businesses and other customers may face challenges obtaining the advanced chip.
Looking Ahead
From cryptocurrency regaining momentum under new political leadership to AI becoming a more personal and integrated part of our lives, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for technology. While these advancements bring exciting possibilities, they also raise questions about trust, regulation, and access. The world will be watching as these trends unfold.
