Top 10 Emerging Technologies to Watch in 2025

Gartner predicts top emerging tech trends in 2025, ranging from neurological enhancement to agentic AI, and explains how these advanced technologies will be relied upon across the globe. 

Top 10 Emerging Technologies to Watch in 2025
Top 10 Emerging Technologies to Watch in 2025

The pace of technological innovation continues to accelerate, with 2025 poised to be another transformative year. Various fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing are experiencing advancements that promise to reshape industries, societies, and everyday lives. 

Global technology is advancing rapidly due to a mix of groundbreaking innovations that are changing how people live, work, and communicate.

While industries around the world continue to deal with challenges like digital transformation after the pandemic, sustainability goals, and changing consumer expectations, technology is moving forward quickly. This brings both opportunities and challenges for everyone.

Looking at trends for this year, Gartner predicts the most important technology trends for 2025. These trends show a shift from traditional digital tools towards more advanced, self-operating systems that blur the lines between human and machine intelligence.

As technology evolves, it raises new challenges such as improving energy efficiency, protecting against cybersecurity threats, and addressing the ethical concerns of more autonomous systems.

As these technologies develop, their effects create new demands for business leaders to understand their potential and manage the risks they bring.

Gene Alvarez, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, says: “Tracking these trends will help IT leaders shape the future of their organisations with responsible and ethical innovation.”

This article highlights the top 10 emerging technologies predicted by Gartner expected to have a significant impact in 2025.

10 emerging technologies in 2025

1. Agentic AI

Agentic AI is a powerful technology that allows software to make decisions on its own. Unlike older systems that only answer questions, agentic AI can analyse large amounts of data and make complex decisions without needing help from humans. In healthcare, it speeds up drug discovery by quickly finding potential compounds. In finance, it looks at investment options and creates personalised financial plans. 

Gartner predicts that by 2028, 15% of daily work decisions will be made by agentic AI, a big jump from almost none today. Companies like Microsoft are heavily investing in agentic AI because it can boost productivity and efficiency in many industries.

2. AI Governance Platforms

As AI becomes more common, it’s important to use it ethically and legally. AI governance platforms help businesses manage the risks of AI, ensure transparency, and maintain accountability in AI systems. These platforms, which are part of Gartner’s AI Trust, Risk, and Security Management (TRiSM) framework, help monitor AI’s performance and ensure it follows ethical guidelines. 

Companies like Credo AI and Fairly AI are leaders in this area, providing tools to help businesses follow regulations like the EU AI Act. By 2028, Gartner predicts companies with solid AI governance will have 40% fewer ethical problems, showing how crucial responsible AI development is.

3. Disinformation Security

With the rise of AI-driven misinformation, the need for strong disinformation security is growing. This technology uses machine learning and advanced algorithms to detect and stop false information from spreading. Companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft are developing tools to track and fight misinformation. 

PwC reports that the market for services helping businesses protect their reputation from false information is growing. Gartner predicts that by 2028, half of all companies will use disinformation security systems, showing a major shift towards defending against the spread of false information.

4. Post Quantum Cryptography

Quantum computing threatens traditional encryption methods, so new technologies like post-quantum cryptography (PQC) are being developed to protect sensitive data. PQC creates encryption methods that can resist the power of quantum computers. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) introduced new PQC standards in 2024, helping companies create secure systems. 

Big companies like Google, IBM, and Microsoft are investing heavily in quantum-resistant systems. By 2029, Gartner predicts quantum computing will make current encryption methods unsafe, making PQC essential for protecting confidential data.

5. Ambient Invisible Intelligence

Ambient invisible intelligence uses advanced sensors and machine learning to make everyday spaces smarter. This technology improves comfort and efficiency by making physical environments more responsive to human needs. In healthcare, smart systems in intensive care units (ICUs) can monitor patients and send alerts if something goes wrong. 

A startup called Eleos Health uses this technology to help therapists by analysing therapy sessions discreetly. Over time, this technology will become more integrated into daily life, creating spaces that adjust to individual needs.

6. Energy-Efficient Computing

With the growth of data centres and AI systems, there’s an increasing need to reduce energy consumption without losing performance. Energy-efficient computing focuses on lowering energy use while still maintaining high computing power. Google’s data centres set an example with a low power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.10. Microsoft plans to power its data centres with renewable energy by 2025. 

New technologies like GPU-accelerated clusters and optical processors will further cut energy consumption. Gartner predicts that in the late 2020s, specialised computing technologies, like neuromorphic processors, will help make computing more sustainable.

7. Hybrid Computing

Hybrid computing combines traditional and new types of computing, like quantum computing, to solve problems that current systems can’t handle. This approach lets businesses use their existing systems while also taking advantage of new innovations. IBM’s hybrid cloud services allow businesses to use both public and private resources to improve their workloads. 

In industries like finance, hybrid computing helps with complex risk modelling, and in healthcare, it can process large amounts of data for personalised treatments. As AI becomes more demanding, hybrid computing provides a way to improve performance while keeping energy use low.

8. Spatial Computing

Spatial computing combines augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) to create environments where the digital and physical worlds come together. This technology is expected to grow from a $110 billion industry in 2023 to $1.7 trillion by 2033, changing areas like training, design, and teamwork. Microsoft’s HoloLens and Apple’s Vision Pro are leading the way by letting professionals add digital information to real-world spaces. 

In healthcare, spatial computing helps surgeons plan operations by visualising body structures in 3D. In education, it allows students to experience historical events or scientific ideas in a way that wasn’t possible before. This technology is set to change how businesses approach problem-solving, learning, and customer interaction.

9. Polyfunctional Robots

Polyfunctional robots are changing industries by replacing single-purpose machines with robots that can do multiple tasks. These robots are flexible and can work in various settings, such as warehouses, factories, and hospitals. Amazon uses these robots in its fulfilment centres to sort products, pack orders, and more. 

Siemens uses them in production lines for tasks like assembly, quality control, and moving materials. In healthcare, robots can deliver medicine, clean rooms, and help in surgeries. Gartner predicts that by 2030, 80% of people will interact with these robots daily, highlighting their growing presence across many industries.

  1. Neurological Enhancement

Neurological enhancement is a breakthrough that connects human brains with technology. Through brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), people can control devices just by thinking. Companies like Neuralink are working on implants that read brain signals, allowing users to do things like type or control prosthetics with their minds. This technology could also improve workforce productivity and marketing by allowing companies to understand how people feel in real-time. 

Gartner predicts that by 2030, 30% of knowledge workers will use neurological enhancement tools, a huge increase from less than 1% in 2024. However, there are important ethical issues around privacy and consent that must be considered before widespread use.