The 2025 technology landscape is set to be shaped by rapid innovation, with advances in artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and sustainability driving both business and societal progress.

The technological advances in 2024 laid the groundwork for a new era, with this momentum continuing in 2025, ushering in trends that will further revolutionise industries, enhance personalisation and simplify complexity across the board.

An opinion piece submitted to Engineering News & Mining Weekly by information and communication technology giant Huawei outlines how, over the next year, the technology landscape will likely be defined by a blend of regulation, innovation, resilience and a drive for inclusivity and sustainability, addressing both the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly evolving technology ecosystem.

AI is set to remain at the forefront of emerging technologies in 2025, likely at an accelerated rate, with sustainability a core focus amid the need to develop greener, more efficient solutions.

AI is going to be infused into everything, from smartphones and smart homes, to cars and even home appliances, delivering personalised experiences and smarter automation, says The Blank Canvas MD and Geekhub.co.za editor Akhram Mohamed.

“It is all about creating a seamless, intuitive experience that makes technology feel more like a personalised companion. Advancements in device and wearable technologies are redefining how we interact with technology, driving both form and function and marking a new era of convenience and personalisation in everyday technology.”

Seamless integration across devices and systems will enhance connectivity in 2025, enabling smoother workflows and smarter ecosystems, while increasingly personalised health gadgets are expected to empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing with real-time monitoring and tailored insights.

“Gen AI will be everywhere this year, powering more large language models, agents and applications than ever before,” says Tech Nation cofounder Cheryl Kahla.

“Consumers crave seamless interactions between our smartphones, home devices and entertainment systems, wherever we can get it and we can expect to see much deeper integration create more connected and intuitive ecosystems,” Kahla continues, highlighting how most health and wellness devices, for example, are already using AI to provide tailored insights and wellness management in real time.

Further, 2025 could also be the year that augmented reality (AR), bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds, steadily carves its place, offering practical and immersive applications that extend far beyond entertainment and holding transformative potential for industries like education and the media landscape.

“This technology has the potential to truly revolutionise the way we interact with technology and become an extension of ourselves. This revolution is increasingly tied to the development of smart devices, with wearables like smart glasses leading the charge. We can expect it to really take off in 2025 and beyond,” says Mohamed.

“And perhaps this will be the year that South African newsrooms tap into the capabilities of AR as well. International weather channels are already using AR to make weather conditions appear larger than life, and Seen TV has been telling stories with AR for years.”

Meanwhile, sustainability and affordability will be critical pillars for the technology industry.

“Sustainability will no longer just be a niche feature; it will become a core component for businesses,” explains Khala.

While achieving these objectives requires a delicate balance, innovative approaches can drive progress on both fronts, creating a technology landscape that is greener and more inclusive.

This also provides an opportunity for companies to deliver an “as-a-service” model, where consumers pay for services instead of owning devices outright, thereby reducing waste and promoting longer lifecycles for electronics.

Additionally, circular design principles, such as creating modular, repairable and upgradable devices, offer another practical path forward.

“By creating modular, repairable, and upgradable devices, manufacturers can extend product lifespans while reducing waste. For example, smartphones with replaceable batteries or laptops made from recycled materials demonstrate how sustainability and practicality can coexist,” adds Mohamed.

He adds that addressing barriers to access is crucial as smart devices are essential for social and economic development.

“Companies must offer solutions that cater to diverse budgets. Offering a range of price points and partnering with government and nonprofit organisations to provide subsidies or financing options can help close the accessibility gap.”

5.5G

Meanwhile, Huawei Technologies South Africa wireless and cloud core MSSD Lars Liu says that 5.5G, or 5G-Advance, promises to revolutionise capacity and user experience by increasing network capacity tenfold and enabling new applications.

“5.5G’s low-latency capabilities, particularly its reduced latency from 10 ms to 1 ms, has the potential to open up new business models, especially in logistics and ecommerce. It promises to improve operational efficiency by enabling real-time applications like remote telemedicine, machine control and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.”