1. Autonomous & Agentic AI

Autonomous agents are poised to be the next phase of AI development. Rather than provide text-based support, these agents will execute tasks from start to finish with minimal guidance. It’s a format likely to appeal to time-pressed consumers looking to streamline both personal and professional routines.

2. Quantified Emotional Insight

The fields of emotion and generative AI are merging, creating a novel breed of empathetic chatbots that deliver companionship, personal insights and mental health support. Despite their promise – and countless new launches – some experts and consumers remain sceptical about AI’s capacity for empathy.

3. Tech Democratises Medical Care

Savvy health tech companies are releasing tools that streamline access to top-quality care – reflecting trends from MedTech: AI-Driven Smart Health Solutions and Wired Health 2025. The best medtech automates routine screenings and provides administrative support, freeing doctors to prioritise patients with complex, time-sensitive concerns.

4. Protective & Proactive Climate Tech

As extreme weather becomes more commonplace and intense, eco-conscious tech brands are devising products and services that help people reckon with the effects of climate change. Some companies aim to address the side effects of environmental precarity, while others are innovating processes that improve eco-resilience.

5. AI In The Machine

Shrewd companies are experimenting with AI-powered intuitive hardware. The best iterations tackle simple and practical tasks with minimal flair and showmanship. Wearables are a key format thanks to their familiarity and ease of use.

6. Heralding Futuristic Mobility

From eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft to autonomous vehicles (AVs), futuristic mobility formats are moving closer to reality. Ambitious companies and countries are forging ahead with plans to manufacture and permit these next-gen vehicles, betting that consumer adoption – and new transport economies – will follow suit.

7. A Smart(er) City Resurgence

By 2029, the global market for smart city technology is expected to reach $115.3bn, up from about $79.9bn in 2025 (Statista, 2025). While we’ve been closely tracking the topic since our 2018 Spotlight Trend Smart Cities, tomorrow’s smart cities are now as invested in sustainability and meaningful citizen engagement as they are in streamlined services.

8. A New Online Dynamic

The amount of time people spend online has remained consistent over the past decade (see Key Stats). However, there’s an increasing divergence between individuals who are limiting their tech exposure and those seeking to streamline their online explorations – frequently with the help of AI. New tools optimise digital engagement for both cohorts.

9. Updating Kid-Friendly Technology

Tech is shaping children’s education, relationships and consumer preferences (see Gen Alpha: The New Rules of Childhood). To keep this influence positive, astute companies are designing kid-appropriate services and products that stimulate curiosity, creativity and real-world engagement. Think wearables that nudge activity with kooky digital companions and limited internet browsers with age-appropriate, inquisitive chatbots.

10. Towards the Quantum Era

By 2035, quantum computing could be a $1.3tn global industry (McKinsey, 2023). Despite its forecast impact – and excitement among experts – the practical applications of quantum computing (applying quantum mechanics to process information quickly) remain undetermined. Hopeful start-ups are deploying the technology to address everything from drug discovery to climate change.