The responsible and ethical use of technology is increasingly becoming a key focus for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) as organizations navigate the delicate balance between progress and maintaining trust and well-being among stakeholders. Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, emphasizes the importance of incorporating ethical considerations into technological advancements to ensure responsible innovation.
According to Gene Alvarez, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, this year’s top strategic technology trends encompass various areas such as AI, computing advancements, and the synergy between humans and machines. These trends have the potential to disrupt traditional business models, foster innovation, and address critical challenges faced by enterprises today. It is imperative for IT leaders to stay abreast of these trends and leverage them to shape the future of their organizations responsibly.
The following are the top strategic technology trends for 2025:
1. Agentic AI:
Agentic AI systems have the ability to independently plan and execute actions to achieve user-defined goals. By 2028, Gartner predicts that at least 15% of daily work decisions will be autonomously made by agentic AI, showcasing the potential for a virtual workforce that can augment human labor and enhance productivity across organizations.
2. AI governance platforms:
AI governance platforms play a vital role in Gartner’s AI Trust, Risk, and Security Management framework, enabling organizations to oversee the legal, ethical, and operational performance of their AI systems. By 2028, Gartner anticipates that organizations with comprehensive AI governance platforms will experience 40% fewer ethical incidents related to AI compared to those without such systems in place.
3. Disinformation security:
The rise of disinformation security technologies aims to combat the spread of false or misleading information by verifying authenticity, preventing impersonation, and ensuring integrity in digital communication. Gartner predicts that by 2028, 50% of enterprises will adopt products or services specifically designed to address disinformation security challenges.
4. Postquantum cryptography:
As quantum computing advancements progress, conventional asymmetric cryptography faces the risk of becoming obsolete. Organizations are urged to adopt postquantum cryptography to safeguard sensitive data against quantum computing decryption threats. By 2029, Gartner forecasts that most conventional asymmetric cryptography will be deemed unsafe due to quantum computing developments.
5. Ambient invisible intelligence:
Ambient invisible intelligence leverages smart tags and sensors to enable real-time tracking and sensing at a large scale. This technology has the potential to enhance efficiency in various sectors, such as retail and logistics, by providing affordable monitoring solutions. Early applications of ambient invisible intelligence are expected to focus on solving immediate challenges and optimizing operations.
6. Energy-efficient computing:
Sustainability considerations are paramount for IT organizations, with a focus on reducing carbon footprints through energy-efficient computing solutions. New technologies, such as optical and neuromorphic computing, are set to emerge in the late 2020s, offering energy-efficient alternatives for compute-intensive tasks like AI training and simulation.
7. Hybrid computing:
Hybrid computing combines different computing paradigms to tackle complex computational challenges, enabling organizations to push the boundaries of technological limitations. This approach allows for transformative innovations that outperform traditional computing environments, particularly in areas like AI and optimization.
8. Spatial computing:
Spatial computing merges physical and virtual worlds using technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration. By 2033, Gartner forecasts significant growth in spatial computing, reaching $1.7 trillion from $110 billion in 2023, indicating its increasing effectiveness in organizational operations.
9. Polyfunctional robots:
Polyfunctional robots are versatile machines capable of performing multiple tasks, offering improved efficiency and scalability compared to task-specific robots. As these robots become more integrated into daily interactions with humans, Gartner predicts that by 2030, 80% of individuals will engage with smart robots on a regular basis.
10. Neurological enhancement:
Neurological enhancement technologies enhance cognitive abilities by decoding brain activity, enabling applications in human upskilling, marketing, and performance optimization. By 2030, Gartner projects a significant increase in knowledge workers relying on technologies like bidirectional brain-machine interfaces to stay relevant in an AI-driven workplace.
The strategic technology trends outlined by Gartner underscore the transformative potential of emerging technologies and the importance of responsible innovation to drive future growth and success for organizations. CIOs and IT leaders are encouraged to proactively integrate these trends into their strategic planning to leverage technological advancements responsibly and ethically.