McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2025

The global technology landscape is undergoing significant shifts, propelled by fast-moving innovations in technologies. These are exponentially increasing demand for computing power, capturing the attention of management teams and the public, and accelerating experimentation. These developments are occurring against a backdrop of rising global competition as countries and corporations race to secure leadership in producing and applying these strategic technologies.

This year’s McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook provides in-depth perspectives on 13—a “baker’s dozen”—frontier technology trends with the potential to transform global business. Executives today face a mandate to navigate rising complexity, scale emerging solutions, and build trust in a world where the lines between digital and physical and centralized and decentralized continue to blur. The insights in this report can help business leaders decide which of these frontier technologies are most relevant to their companies by demonstrating how others are starting to apply them today.

From the rise of robotics and autonomous systems to the imperative for responsible AI innovations, this year’s technology developments underscore a future where technology is more adaptive, collaborative, and integral to solving global problems. This is illuminated by themes that cut across trends this year:  The rise of autonomous systems.  New human–machine collaboration models.  Scaling challenges.   Regional and national competition over critical technologies.  Scale and specialization are growing simultaneously.  And responsible innovation imperatives.

For executives, success will hinge on identifying high-impact domains in which they can apply these trends, investing in the necessary talent and infrastructure, and addressing external factors like regulatory shifts and ecosystem readiness. By fostering collaboration, bridging ecosystem gaps, and maintaining a long-term vision, leaders can accelerate adoption and position their organizations to drive the next wave of technological transformation. Those who act with focus and agility will not only unlock new value but also shape the future of their industries and the future of today’s emerging frontier technologies.

McK report lays out 13 technology trends. Grouped into three broader categories: the AI revolution, compute and connectivity frontiers, and cutting-edge engineering. Of course, there’s significant power and potential in looking across these groupings when considering trend combinations.

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.
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.
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.
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 (LEO) satellites.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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