The omnipresence of technology in our lives cannot be questioned. In fact, it is largely about keeping up with the changes in a rapidly evolving landscape.
It’s not surprising to know that artificial intelligence (AI) has taken center stage for a couple of years now, and 2025 will predictably see the scaling up of AI offerings – at least, according to forbes.com, which includes AI among consumer trends shaping business next year. Contributor Mary Meehan lists three things that will happen in the AI space next year: further integration into daily life, businesses keeping pace with its offerings, and the continuous discussion about ethics.
AI dominates various spaces this year and is top of mind for tech customers and fans. It is not, however, the only thing of note. Let’s list down what defines tech in 2024.
- Artificial intelligence. If 2023 was the year of AI discovery, 2024 was when we derived value from it, says McKinsey.com in “The state of AI in early 2024: Gen (Generative) AI adoption spikes and starts to generate value.” More companies are adopting Gen AI and realizing benefits through less cost and higher revenues. As a consumer, pay extra attention to your experiences online. The chatbots or online desk assistants you encounter could already be leveraging AI. When you stream videos, watch sports games, and just casually browse on social media, product suggestions or placements could be dependent on AI algorithms (sometimes leading us to add more to our carts). Remember when you searched for something like “Seoul,” for example, and all of a sudden, your Facebook or Instagram feed showed you sites in the city or travel packages?
Consulting firm Ernst & Young says Gen AI assistance will influence the consumption of goods and services further. The article “How is Gen AI evolving consumer experiences both today and in the future” forecasts that Gen AI assistants will “automate basic buying activities, leverage AI nudges to inform healthier, better life choices, and engage with more personalized products, media and experiences.” The decision-making process of buyers could also be governed by AI, says the company, “as consumers will engage with brands through channels curated by their own AI tools.”
- Artificial intelligence, again. Here’s the bad that comes with the good. Distrust, resistance, lack of information, and unpleasant experiences impact how Gen AI has been received by some people. AI is considered a threat to some jobs, and this was brought to the fore when Hollywood went on a 118-day strike to raise their concerns about it. In September this year, Los Angeles Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law to protect the entertainment industry from being replaced by digital impostors without their consent. There is an increasing need to tightly regulate AI in many countries. Governments and institutions are challenged with the ever-evolving abilities AI is offering. While legislation is being crafted, it’s doubtful that it will slow down its development in 2025.
- Home automation. This trend continues, as more of us realize the benefits of products like closed-circuit television (CCTV), smart speakers, and smart kitchen appliances. Even a robot vacuum makes a big difference in our daily lives. It’s no surprise then that more consumers are going for premium smart devices. The convenience and savings these provide make investments worthwhile. However, cost and interconnectivity continue to impact the reception for these products, says nielsenniq.com’s Senior Director Nevin Fracis in his article “Smart home outlook: The demand and price dynamics shaping the market into 2025.” He writes that while robot vacuum cleaners and smart television sets continue to attract consumers, the benefits of other smart home products “aren’t compelling enough” to attract buyers. Consumers, especially in developed countries, are looking for a seamless experience that makes their investments go beyond just having novelty products.
- Sustainable decisions. Aside from cost, gadget owners are being practical about their decisions. Top phone brands release models every year, but buyers are looking twice to see if these really offer anything new. “The biggest problem with these quick update cycles is the environmental drain it causes,” opines Andrew Lanxon of cnet.com. “While most companies now boast various amounts of recycled materials in their phones… the bigger help in reducing that impact at source would simply be for tech firms to release new models less often.” In his piece “Yearly phone launches need to stop for more reasons than one,” he suggests that phone companies transition from yearly launches to multi-year releases for game consoles to really offer something new and demand less from the planet from the mining, production, and even transportation required to bring their latest offerings to consumers.