From AI governance platforms and polyfunctional robots to energy-efficient and spatial computing, here are the top 10 technology trends and use cases for 2025, according to Gartner’s new report.

IT research firm Gartner predicts the 10 biggest technology trends of 2025, which includes the rise of agentic AI technology, demand for disinformation cybersecurity solutions and polyfunctional robots that can follow human instruction.

Some of Gartner’s boldest predictions include at least 15 percent of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI by 2028, up from 0 percent this year.

The rise of AI agents will require advancements in AI governance and new technologies to combat disinformation.

“When you use a bank’s mobile app or website, AI is often behind features like fraud detection, loan approvals and personalized finance advice,” said Gartner’s Jasleen Kaur Sindhu, vice president and analyst. “An AI governance platform helps the bank ensure these systems are making decisions fairly and ethically, protecting data and complying with regulations.”

By 2028, 50 percent of enterprises will adopt products, services or features specifically to address disinformation cybersecurity use cases, up from less than 5 percent in 2024.

Additionally, Gartner predicts within four years that enterprises using AI governance platforms will achieve 30 percent higher customer trust ratings and 25 percent better regulatory compliance scores than their competitors.

Other major trends in Gartner’s new 2025 Top Strategic Technology Trends report include both spatial and quantum computing, as well as the rise in polyfunctional robots.

By 2030, 80 percent of humans will engage with smart robots on a daily basis, up from less than 10 percent today. “Robots, working with humans, must be able to work in an environment designed for humans,” said Bill Ray, distinguished vice president and analyst at Gartner. “That doesn’t necessitate a human form: The most successful polyfunctional robots will not replicate the human shape—they will improve upon it.”

CRN breaks down Gartner’s 10 top strategic technology trends in 2025 along with popular use cases for each category.

No. 1: Agentic AI

Agentic AI is a software program designed to independently make decisions and take actions to achieve specific goals. Agentic AI is trending because of its ability to take action autonomously to help CIOs realize their vision for generative AI to increase productivity.

These programs combine various AI techniques with features like memory, planning, sensing the environment, using tools and following safety guidelines to carry out tasks to reach objectives on their own.

“Organizations have long wanted to promote high-performing teams, improve cross-functional collaboration and coordinate issues across team networks,” Tom Coshow, senior director analyst at Gartner, in the report. “Agentic AI has the potential to perform as a highly competent teammate by providing insights from derivative events that are often not visible to human teammates.”

Use Cases:

Automating customer experiences by using data analysis to make highly calculated decisions at each step.

Empowering workers to develop and manage more complicated, technical projects through natural language.

No. 2: AI Governance Platforms

AI governance platforms help manage and control AI systems by ensuring they are used responsibly and ethically. AI governance is trending right now as platforms are being used in more areas, especially in industries with strict regulations.

These platforms allow IT leaders to make sure AI is reliable, transparent, fair and accountable while also meeting safety and ethical standards.

Gartner said by 2028, enterprises using AI governance platforms will achieve 30 percent higher customer trust ratings and 25 percent better regulatory compliance scores than their competitors.

“When you use a bank’s mobile app or website, AI is often behind features like fraud detection, loan approvals and personalized finance advice,” said Gartner’s Jasleen Kaur Sindhu, vice president and analyst. “An AI governance platform helps the bank ensure these systems are making decisions fairly and ethically, protecting data and complying with regulations.”

Use Cases:

Assessing potential risks and harms that AI systems may pose, including bias, privacy violations and negative societal impacts.

Guiding AI models through the model governance process to ensure all appropriate gates and controls are followed during the model life cycle.

No. 3: Disinformation Security

Disinformation cybersecurity is defined as security solutions designed to help identify what can be trusted. The goal is to create systems that ensure information is accurate, verify authenticity, prevent impersonation and monitor the spread of harmful content.

“Suppose an employee receives an email that appears to be from your company’s CEO, requesting sensitive information or authorizing a financial transaction,” Dan Ayoub Senior Director Analyst, Gartner. “Disinformation security tools would analyze the email’s content, metadata and origin to detect signs of impersonation or fraud, and if need be, automatically quarantine the email, alert the employee and notify IT security.”

Gartner said by 2028, 50 percent of enterprises will adopt products, services or features specifically to address disinformation security use cases, up from less than 5 percent in 2024.

Use Cases:

Intelligence monitoring for narratives spread through mass or social media, such as those targeting an executive leadership team, products, services or brand.

Preventing the impersonation of individuals doing business with an organization including employees, contractors, suppliers and customers.

No. 4: Post-Quantum Cryptography

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) refers to cryptographic methods designed to be secure against the potential threats posed by quantum computers.

“When employees send sensitive emails containing financial data, customer information or intellectual property, PQC algorithms could be applied to encrypt these communications,” said Mark Horvath, vice president and analyst at Gartner. “Even if attackers intercept the data now, they won’t be able to decrypt it in the future, even when quantum computers become powerful enough to break current encryption standards.”

Gartner said quantum computing will soon become a reality and is expected to render many conventional cryptographic methods obsolete, posing a significant risk to data security.

Criminals are already anticipating this shift, adopting strategies like “harvest now, decrypt later,” where they exfiltrate encrypted data with the expectation that they will eventually be able to decrypt it using quantum technology, Gardner said.

Use Cases:

Safeguarding valuable intellectual property from cyberthreats, including future quantum attacks, ensuring competitors or hackers cannot decrypt confidential information.

Ensuring encrypted messages, contracts and operational data cannot be intercepted or decrypted by quantum-powered adversaries.

No. 5: Ambient Invisible Intelligence

Ambient invisible intelligence refers to the widespread use of small, low-cost tags and sensors to track the location and status of various objects and environments.

This information is sent to the cloud for analysis and record keeping. These technologies will be built into everyday objects, often without the user noticing them.

Ambient invisible intelligence is trending because it offers real-time visibility that is valuable to organizations and supply chains, which could expand into broader ecosystems over time.

“In manufacturing, components and machinery could communicate with management systems, providing updates on maintenance needs, stock levels or usage patterns,” said Gartner’s Nick Jones, distinguished vice president and analyst. “This visibility helps optimize supply chains, prevent equipment downtime and automate reordering.”

Use Cases:

In a retail environment, automatically adjusting lighting, music and product recommendations based on customer behavior.

In the healthcare industry, continuously monitoring patients without requiring wearable devices, enabling real-time responses to emergencies.

No. 6: Energy Efficient Computing

Energy-efficient computing refers to designing and operating computers, data centers and other digital systems in ways that minimize energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Sustainability is now a board-level focus, Gartner said.

“Imagine a smart office building where energy-efficient computing is integrated into every aspect of daily operations. IoT sensors track occupancy, adjusting lighting, HVAC and equipment usage in real time based on actual needs—resulting in significant cost savings and reduction in carbon footprint,” said Garnter’s Jones.

While conventional processing improvements are reaching their limits, new computing technologies like graphics processing units (GPUs), neuromorphic computing and quantum computing are expected to deliver the substantial energy-efficiency gains needed in the next five to ten years.

Use Cases:

Cutting data center costs by reducing the power consumption of servers and cooling systems.

Using smart power management systems that reduce power consumption across office networks.

No. 7: Hybrid Computing

Hybrid computing combines various technologies—such as CPUs, GPUs, edge devices as well as quantum and photonic systems—to solve complex computational problems. It creates a hybrid environment that uses the strengths of each technology.

“Picture this: An organization might run its core, sensitive applications on local servers (for security and control), while leveraging the cloud for high-performance tasks like data analytics, AI or backup storage. This hybrid setup enables the business to scale efficiently, optimize costs and maintain flexibility,” Soyeb Barot, vice president and Analyst at Gartner.

Hybrid computing enables businesses to harness new technologies like biocomputing, neuromorphic and quantum systems for disruptive impact. GenAI is a key example, where solving complex problems requires advanced computing, networking and storage on a large scale.

Use Cases:

Cost-efficient scalability: keeping critical workloads in-house for security reasons, while using the cloud to handle peak loads during busy seasons.

Enhancing data security and compliance: storing sensitive data on-premises, meeting strict data privacy regulations, while using the cloud for less sensitive operations or analytics.

Accelerating innovation and development: leveraging cloud-based development tools, while maintaining secure, on premises environments for production.

No. 8: Spatial Computing

Spatial computing augments the physical world by anchoring digital content in the real world, enabling users to interact with it in an immersive, realistic and intuitive experience.

Spatial computing is trending due to advances in augmented reality (AR) and AI technologies, enabling immersive digital environments across gaming, healthcare and e-commerce. With major companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm building ecosystems, the market is projected to grow from $110 billion in 2023 to $1.7 trillion by 2033.

“Using spatial computing, companies can use digital twin technology to create a real-time 3D digital replica of physical assets,” said Gartner’s Marty Resnick vice president and analyst. “This is an immersive way to monitor and optimize performance, predict maintenance needs and test scenarios without disrupting everyday operations.”

By 2028, 20 percent of people will have an immersive experience with persistently anchored, geo-posed content once a week, up from less than 1 percent in 2023.

Use Cases:

Creating lifelike simulations for employee training to emulate hands-on learning, reducing training costs and risks while improving skill acquisition and retention.

Navigating stores and purchasing decisions with an interactive virtual assistant to improve the shopping experience, driving higher engagement and sales.

No. 9: Polyfunctional Robots

Polyfunctional robots are machines that can perform multiple tasks, following human instruction or example.

Polyfunctional robots are trending due to rising labor costs and the demand for improved ROI in industries like warehousing and manufacturing.

By 2030, 80 percent of humans will engage with smart robots on a daily basis, up from less than 10 percent today.

“Robots, working with humans, must be able to work in an environment designed for humans,” said Bill Ray, distinguished vice president and analyst at Gartner. “That doesn’t necessitate a human form: The most successful polyfunctional robots will not replicate the human shape—they will improve upon it.”

Use Cases:

In field servicing, inspecting equipment, performing routine maintenance and repairing breakdowns in remote or hazardous environments.

Assisting in healthcare, performing various tasks including delivering medical supplies, assisting patient mobility or even disinfecting spaces.

No. 10: Neurological Enhancement

Neurological enhancement is the process of improving a human’s cognitive abilities using technologies that read and decode brain activity and optionally write to the brain. This is trending due to its potential to enable brain transparency, revolutionizing healthcare.

By 2030, 60 percent of IT workers will be enhanced by, and dependent on, technologies such as bidirectional brain-machine interfaces—both employer and self-funded—that are on the rise in 2024.

“Imagine a job interview done with a brain interface, in two minutes,” said Gartner’s Sylvain Fabre, senior director and analyst. “Neurological enhancement enables organizations to know how a person feels. It can also have some inputs to the brain, to stimulate employees into being more relaxed or more focused for better productivity. Capabilities will evolve, but existing solutions can give you an edge today.”

Use Cases:

Personalizing educational material for students in real time.

Reducing trainee surgeons’ residency duration by a full year.

Improving recruitment and retention by identifying compatible colleagues via neurodata.