It’s not surprising that AI tops the list of technologies transforming global businesses as well as the lives of everyday workers. But there are significant shifts occurring across a much broader technological spectrum that will also have a major impact around the world, a report out this week from consulting firm McKinsey & Co. finds.
The McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2025 highlights 13 areas that are driving innovation and addressing critical challenges across business sectors. While only the top two are AI-related, the report points out that artificial intelligence is also having a major impact behind the scenes in many tech realms.
“AI stands out not only as a powerful technology wave on its own but also as a foundational amplifier of the other trends. AI both accelerates progress within individual domains and unlocks new possibilities at the intersections — accelerating the training of robots, advancing scientific discoveries in bioengineering, optimizing energy systems and much more,” the report says.
All of the trends are exponentially increasing demand for computing power, capturing the attention of management teams and the public and accelerating experimentation, the report found. And they are occurring against a backdrop of rising global competition as countries and corporations race to secure leadership in producing and applying these strategic technologies.
The findings are based on an analysis of quantitative measures of interest, innovation, equity investment and talent that underpin each of the 13 trends and explore the underlying technologies, uncertainties and questions around them, McKinsey said.
Here are 2025’s 13 top tech trends:
1. Agentic AI
Agentic AI is an artificial intelligence system capable of independently planning and executing complex, multistep tasks. Built on foundation models, these agents can autonomously perform actions, communicate with one another, and adapt to new information. Significant advancements have emerged, from general agent platforms to specialized agents designed for deep research.
- 2024 equity investment: $1.1 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: +985%
2. Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These systems leverage algorithms, data, and computational power to recognize patterns, make decisions, and learn from experiences.
- 2024 equity investment: $124.3 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: +35%
3. Application-specific semiconductors
Application-specific semiconductors are purpose-built chips optimized to perform specialized tasks. Unlike general-purpose semiconductors, they are engineered to handle specific workloads (such as large-scale AI training and inference tasks) while optimizing performance characteristics, including offering superior speed, energy efficiency, and performance.
- 2024 equity investment: $7.5 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: +22%
4. Advanced connectivity
Advanced connectivity covers a suite of evolving technologies that enhance and expand digital communication networks. This includes wireless low-power networks, 5G and emerging 6G cellular systems, Wi-Fi 6 and 7 standards, and low-Earth-orbit satellites.
- 2024 equity investment: $44.2 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –14%
5. Cloud and edge computing
Cloud and edge computing involve distributing workloads across locations, from hyperscale remote data centers to regional hubs and local nodes. This approach optimizes performance by addressing factors such as latency, data transfer costs, data sovereignty, and data security.
- 2024 equity investment: $80.8 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: +2%
6. Immersive-reality technologies
Immersive-reality technologies encompass augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) and include AR smart glasses, advanced haptic feedback, and AI-powered enhancements that improve rendering, tracking, and processing capabilities.
- 2024 equity investment: $6.0 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –11%
7. Digital trust and cybersecurity
Digital trust and cybersecurity covers technologies and practices designed to ensure secure, transparent, and trustworthy digital interactions. This includes identity verification, data protection, encryption, threat detection, and blockchain-based trust systems.
- 2024 equity investment: $77.8 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: +7%
8. Quantum technologies
Quantum-based technologies make use of the unique properties of quantum mechanics to execute certain complex calculations exponentially faster than classical computers, secure communication networks, and produce sensors with higher sensitivity levels than their classical counterparts.
- 2024 equity investment: $2.0 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –15%
9. Future of robotics
The future of robotics covers the advancement of robotics capable of performing tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously, adapting to new, real-life inputs with increasing degrees of autonomy and dexterity, including autonomous mobile robots and humanoid robots.
- 2024 equity investment: $7.0 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –2%
10. Future of mobility
Mobility technologies include autonomous vehicles; electric vehicles; drones; urban air mobility solutions, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft; and micromobility, such as e-scooters and e-bikes. These technologies have the goal of improving the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of transportation systems.
- 2024 equity investment: $131.6 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: +6%
11. Future of bioengineering
Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to biology, utilizing technological advancements (for example, gene editing, synthetic biology) to improve health and human performance, transform food value chains, and create innovative offerings.
- 2024 equity investment: $57.3 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –17%
12. Future of space technologies
Space technologies cover satellite systems, launch vehicles, habitation modules, and exploration missions, including low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, direct-to-device connectivity integrating space assets with terrestrial networks, and Earth observation.
- 2024 equity investment: $9.3 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –9%
13. Future of energy and sustainability technologies
Energy and sustainability technologies encompass a broad spectrum of innovations aimed at transforming the global energy landscape toward a more sustainable and resilient future. This includes the spectrum of technologies transforming the global energy value chain, particularly focusing on clean electrons, electrification, and clean molecules.
- 2024 equity investment: $223.2 billion
- Job postings difference 2023-24: –6%
Read more: Thinking beyond the AI gold-rush mentality
