Technology trends 2025: from quantum computing to AI agents

Generative AI, 'deeptech' and APIs have been prominent technological trends in recent years' predictions. But will 2025 mark the breakthrough year for quantum technology, as advocated by the UN? And will AI agents represent a key milestone on the path toward general artificial intelligence or 'Strong AI'? These are some of the technological trends expected to take center stage in 2025.

Spotlight: 2025, the quantum year

In June 2024, the United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), driven by the Quantum 2025 initiative. Backed by around 300 organizations, including BBVA, this initiative aims to commemorate the centenary of the formulation of the laws of quantum mechanics.

Quantum computing is one of the most promising fields, with significant implications for banking. Strong support from the international community could provide it with a crucial boost. "In 2025, there will be more public and private investment in this field of science," says Escolástico Sánchez, leader of the Quantum discipline at BBVA. He predicts that the proclamation of the IYQ, "along with the Draghi Report (which specifically addressed quantum computing), will encourage Europe to become more active in this technology."

Quantum computing requires advances in both hardware—to reduce errors—and software, through the development of new algorithms. It also demands skilled talent and an open research ecosystem. "We need to collaborate more to drive this forward," says Escolástico Sánchez, the bank's quantum lead. As an example, BBVA has worked alongside six other firms for four years on CUCO, a project 50-percent funded by the European Union. The bank has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Biqain, the quantum initiative backed by the Basque regional government. This industrial strategy, led by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, aims to provide access to research infrastructure and foster public-private partnerships to accelerate progress.

The future of quantum computing rests on two pivotal concepts: the quantum threat and quantum advantage. The former, largely tied to cybersecurity risks, is already prompting institutions like BBVA to explore new cryptographic paradigms. These include post-quantum cryptography, designed to withstand quantum computing, as well as quantum cryptography, which leverages the principles of quantum mechanics itself. As for quantum advantage, Escolástico Sánchez highlights the transformative potential of quantum computing for finance. Key applications could include optimizing processes and investment portfolios, detecting fraud through "quantum machine learning," and accelerating Monte Carlo simulations—a mathematical technique used to predict outcomes in uncertain situations.

The impact of quantum computing will extend far beyond finance, influencing nearly every sector. "Pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biology, medicine, energy, logistics... Life will improve significantly if we can develop better materials, more effective treatments, new molecules, or personalized medicines," predicts BBVA’s head of Quantum, Escolástico Sánchez.

AI, energy and automation - the keys to 2025

Beyond the realm of quantum computing, several technological tools and trends are set to capture attention in 2025, whether for their novelty or their potential to drive significant progress:

AI agents. Artificial intelligence has long featured among top technology trends, from generative AI to explainable AI (XAI). In 2025, attention is shifting to "agentic" AI—models and systems capable of making autonomous decisions. Gartner identifies AI agents as a key trend for the year ahead, while a Capgemini Research Institute survey of 1,500 executives reveals that 32 percent rank AI agents as the leading trend in data and AI by 2025. Similarly, Deloitte predicts that 25 percent of companies using AI will have launched "agentic" AI pilot programs by then. However, Lourdes Rodriguez, senior foresight consultant for the European Commission, cautions against overhyping the potential of agentic AI. "It is important and developing, but I believe expectations are being exaggerated. Many challenges, such as transparency and the traceability of decisions, still need to be addressed before scaling up," she warns.

Robotics and automation. AI algorithms have significantly enhanced robots' ability to operate autonomously and adapt to their surroundings. McKinsey’s most optimistic projections estimate that up to 40 percent of work could be automated within the next 20 years, while the global robotics industry could generate $910 billion in revenue by 2040. According to a Capgemini survey, 24 percent of senior executives and 43 percent of venture capital investors rank AI-driven automation and robotics among the top three technology trends in data and AI for 2025. Jorge Camacho, research associate at the Institute for the Future, notes that autonomous vehicles—and particularly robotaxis—may begin expanding beyond Silicon Valley. "We could see experiments and pilots in other regions of the world, driven by players such as Chinese tech companies like Baidu," he predicts. Lourdes Rodríguez also points to the advancement of "multimodal AI," which can process and integrate data from multiple sources: a crucial capability for applications like autonomous driving. When combined with generative AI, multimodal AI has the potential to transform fields such as medical diagnostics. However, Rodríguez notes that hurdles remain, including the challenge of ensuring data hygiene.

Cybersecurity and authentication tools. Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, even if it’s no longer seen as a "shiny new thing," says Lourdes Rodríguez: "People are tired of hearing about it and don’t want to see it in trend reports again, but the challenges and risks are evolving rapidly." These include the quantum threat, data privacy concerns tied to ubiquitous computing, and cybercrimes like fraud. Accenture’s Life Trends 2025 report notes that one of users’ top concerns for 2025 will be the difficulty of verifying information, especially through digital channels. Jorge Camacho predicts that advancements in generative AI, such as recent breakthroughs in video generation by OpenAI and Google, will fuel its misuse for disinformation, deepfakes, and fake news. To address these risks, tools for identifying AI-generated content, initiatives like the development of self-sovereign identity (SSI), and approaches such as utilizing anonymised data will become increasingly important. These measures aim to ensure transparency, trust, and privacy in a virtual world where boundaries are increasingly blurred.

New (and renewable) energy generation. Clean technologies have been a growing trend for years, and their significance continues to rise. Investment in sustainability-focused companies has rebounded in Europe, gaining momentum as a portion of overall investment, with projections indicating this positive trend will carry on into the next year. Emerging innovations such as the decentralization of energy through virtual power plants and the adoption of prosumer models for distributed generation could significantly advance global efforts to expand clean energy and support the immense energy demands of scaling technologies like AI. "Companies that focus not just on generation but also on the distribution, transmission, and management of renewables will play a crucial role in meeting growing energy demand and supporting electrification," notes Jorge Camacho, research associate at the Institute for the Future (IFTF). However, Jorge Camacho highlights that other contenders will emerge in the race for clean energy, such as nuclear power. By 2025, nuclear energy could see a resurgence, driven by support from "Big Tech" and the growing adoption of small modular reactors (SMRs).

Experts point to a wide range of emerging trends, including spatial computing—technology that bridges the physical and digital worlds with solutions like the Ray-Ban Meta collection of smart glass—and solar geoengineering. Other innovations include advancements in biotech, such as GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Ozempic, which mimic the GLP-1 hormone to stimulate insulin production and enhance feelings of satiety, gaining popularity as weight loss treatments. Additionally, 'space tech' is another area poised for growth. While some of these trends may not make the high-profile predictions for 2025, they are expected to gain momentum and grow in significance over the coming year.

The focus on technology, a macro-trend

Technology itself is expected to be one of the defining trends of 2025. A survey by the Information Services Group reveals that business leaders plan to increase overall IT budgets by 1.8 percent in 2025, with spending on AI projected to grow at a significantly higher rate of 5.7 percent. On a global scale, Gartner forecasts that IT spending will reach $5.74 trillion in 2025, representing a 9.3 percent increase from 2024. These figures underscore the critical importance that organizations place on technological innovation.

Energy, AI, robotics, and computing: whether these trends emerge or gain momentum in 2025, they are notable for their potential to address complex challenges and offer promising applications that benefit people, businesses, and the planet.