Technology Trends for 2025

👋 Hi, I am Mark. I am a strategic futurist and innovation keynote speaker. I advise governments and enterprises on emerging technologies such as AI or the metaverse. My subscribers receive a free weekly newsletter on cutting-edge technology.


Time flies when experiencing exponential change! With 2025 approaching, it's time for my annual technology trend predictions—a tradition I've maintained since 2012 and one I deeply enjoy. Writing these articles allows me to reflect on the past year's predictions and explore the future with renewed curiosity.

In 2024, I named the year “The Year of Science Reality,” as technologies once confined to science fiction became tangible. Looking back, most of my predictions aligned closely with the developments we witnessed, though some advanced faster than anticipated, while others remain on the horizon. 

Here’s a quick recap:

Spot-on Predictions: 

Humanoids integrated with multimodal LLMs, exemplified by Figure 1’s conversational capabilities, and conversational IoT devices, like LG’s empathetic AI home hub, validated my expectations. Similarly, the rise of deepfakes underscored the growing “fake reality,” and Edge AI adoption accelerated, enabling real-time processing on devices.

Emerging Trends: 

AI-quantum computing convergence shows promise but remains in its infancy, and some researchers now question whether we need quantum computing if we have advanced AI. Synthetic biology, though advancing, is yet to enter the mainstream.     READ MORE...

Listening Versus Reading

Would you prefer to read a book or listen to the audio version? Your answer may depend on several variables, such as convenience or availability. The debate about the differences between reading and listening comprehension has taken center stage once again.

Besides a preference for one over the other, the most crucial question is; which of the two helps us retain vital information, improve our comprehension, and make us more efficient?

Well, it depends.

There are numerous studies and articles on the topic, most of which evaluate both methods’ effectiveness. Individual preferences and even learning disabilities can play a role.

However, there are differences in comprehension, depending on how we consume information. One example is transcribers. They must develop excellent listening skills to transfer audio conversations into a text format. Poor listening habits won’t help someone transcribe a significant legal deposition or law enforcement interview efficiently.

It’s also important to point out that there are differences between reading or listening for pleasure versus learning. Below are some examples:

Audiobooks vs. Physical Books
Do we comprehend more information if we physically read a book compared to listening to the same material?

Remember when audiobooks hit the market years ago? Futurist suggested listening would eclipse reading as our preferred learning method. It looks like books are still with us and will be for the foreseeable future.

Having access to one version gives us options when the other isn’t convenient or available. Reading a book or magazine while walking in the park or on a treadmill is often challenging. That’s when using our earbuds to listen to audiobooks or podcasts is a better method.  READ MORE...