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This is Part 2 of our review of Global Trends that risk leaders should be aware of in 2025, covering. See our review of the the first seven risks in 2025 Global Trends to Watch Part 1.
In todays rapidly evolving and interconnected global environment, companies must vigilantly monitor global trends to comprehend and adapt to their shifting risk profiles. Monitoring global trends such as economic, political, social and technological trends can help companies anticipate and adapting to emerging risks and overall changes in their risk profile. Failing to monitor these trends leaves businesses vulnerable to unexpected issues and events. For example, the growing adoption of artificial intelligence and automation presents both risks, such as cybersecurity threats, and opportunities, like improved operational efficiency. Similarly, demographic shifts, such as aging populations in developed markets or expanding middle classes in emerging economies, can reshape demand for products and services. By analyzing these trends, companies can better allocate resources, refine their risk assessment frameworks, and develop contingency plans. Ultimately, monitoring global trends empowers businesses to navigate uncertainty, remain competitive, and build resilience in an ever-changing risk landscape. The following are some of the key trends that DelCreo is monitoring in 2025:
Geopolitics
Supply Chain
Tax Policy
Talent Dynamics
Enshittification
Electrification
EV/ EIV/ Autonomous Vehicle
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Quantum Computing
Synthetic Content
Computing Resources
Cybersecurity
Connectivity
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI continues to revolutionize industries, offering unprecedented insights and efficiency gains. Challenges are significant - for example, 75% of consumers are concerned about misinformation from AI. However, managing AI risks, such as bias and data privacy, remains paramount for businesses adopting these technologies and will be more complex than simply managing AI integration or utilization. The rapid adoption of AI in other areas, such as advanced robotics, more complex cybersecurity threats, and the potentially accelerated spread of disinformation. AI advances will spill into many of the other top trends such as robotics and cybersecurity and change the nature of risks companies face, look for developments in the following areas:
Cost optimization – AI companies like OpenAI, Google, and Amazon were shocked by the performance and cost of Deepseek’s AI open-source model. As details continue to emerge, cost pressure is likely to grow on established providers.
Agentic AI that autonomously completes tasks will continue to grow, even as generative AI continues to advance towards general intelligence.
The regulatory environment will continue to be muddled as the EU risks falling further behind with stricter regulation while China and the U.S. involved in a deep competition tied to technology leadership and national security reminiscent of The Space Race in the 1960s.
Companies will continue to push for greater transparency and clarity of models to reduce biases and phantom results and make model outputs dependable, auditable and repeatable.
ROBOTICS
In the coming years, robotics is expected to undergo significant transformations, driven by advancements in AI and other technologies. The integration of artificial intelligence into robotics will lead to smarter, more autonomous robots capable of performing complex tasks across various industries like manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. This change will be marked by the use of machine learning for predictive maintenance, enhancing robot longevity, and reducing operational costs. Collaborative robots, or “cobots”, will see wider adoption, facilitating human-robot teamwork in environments where safety and precision are paramount. Mobile manipulators, combining robotic arms with autonomous mobility, will offer new levels of operational flexibility in industrial settings. Digital twins, which are digital replicas of a “physical object, person, system, or process” and can help many kinds of organizations simulate real situations and their outcomes, ultimately allowing them to make better decisions. Digital twins will revolutionize how robots are designed, maintained, and operated, by providing real-time data and simulations for performance optimization. Humanoid robots, although not yet ready for widespread general use, will find niche applications in controlled environments, focusing on tasks that require human-like interaction.
There will also be a strong emphasis on sustainability, with robotics becoming more energy-efficient, using lighter materials and smarter power management systems. Service robotics will continue to grow, entering more aspects of daily life from personal care to home assistance, making robots not just tools of industry but companions in daily living. The overarching trend will be towards cost reduction and accessibility, making robotics solutions viable for smaller enterprises and thereby democratizing automation technology.
Electric vehicle companies are leveraging the same AI systems and sensor technology used in autonomous driving to automate some manufacturing task in their factories as well diversify into the robotics industry. Tesla, BYD, Waymo, and XPeng are some of the early leaders. Elon Musk has suggested that the robotics business could eventually surpass Tesla's automotive sector in value.
QUANTUM COMPUTING
Quantum Computing can potentially solve problems traditional computers can’t such as optimizing large systems and factoring large numbers (meaning current security cryptography may be vulnerable). Quantum computing is poised for significant evolution, particularly in quantum networking and error correction. Advances in quantum error correction are critical, aiming to decrease qubit error rates and enhance the fidelity of quantum operations, which is essential for scaling quantum systems. This advancement is complemented by the development of quantum networking, where improvements in entanglement success rates are crucial for building more interconnected quantum computing environments. In this area of research, focus is also shifting towards logical qubits, which promise more reliable quantum computation by using multiple physical qubits to encode a single logical qubit, thus reducing errors. Scalability continues to be a key challenge, with efforts focusing on both increasing the number of qubits and improving their quality and connectivity.
Recent developments include such as Microsoft's creation of the Majorana 1 chip, which uses a new state of matter that isn’t a solid, liquid or gas that creates more stable qubits, potentially overcoming previous limitations in quantum computing. Google also recently announced that it has created a chip called “willow” that solves error-correction issues and able to perform a “computation in under five minutes that would take current supercomputers a near-eternity.” On the commercial front, quantum computing is expected to see substantial market growth, particularly in sectors like finance where quantum applications could revolutionize complex financial modeling and risk assessment. The global race in quantum technology is fostering both competition and collaboration, with nations investing heavily to lead in quantum research and application. Quantum software and algorithms are gaining traction, aiming to unlock practical applications in drug discovery, logistics, and machine learning. Moreover, the emergence of various quantum cloud platforms by tech giants like IBM, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft is democratizing access to quantum computing. Finally, the field of quantum security is advancing, with a push towards post-quantum cryptography to safeguard data against future quantum threats. These trends indicate that quantum computing is not only advancing technologically but also becoming increasingly integrated into various industries.
SYNTHETIC CONTENT AND INFORMATION (DISINFORMATION)
The proliferation of synthetic data and AI-generated content has significantly enhanced the creation and dissemination of disinformation. Advanced AI systems can produce highly realistic fake texts, images, audio, and videos, commonly known as "deepfakes," which are challenging to distinguish from authentic content. This capability enables malicious actors to automate and scale disinformation campaigns, increasing their reach and potential impact as well as enabling automated cyberattacks, discussed below. The implications for businesses are profound. AI-generated disinformation could potentially impact a company’s brand and reputation. For example, deepfake videos or audio clips mimicking company executives could be used to spread false information, undermining shareholder confidence, and potentially directly affecting the price of shares of publicly traded companies. Moreover, the low cost and ease of use of generative AI tools lowers the barrier for creating such disinformation, increasing the frequency and sophistication of these attacks. Furthermore, government and other political actors could be increasingly adept at using generative AI to influence public opinion. OpenAI removed user accounts from China and North Korea that the company “believes were using its technology for malicious purposes including surveillance and opinion-influence operations”. Although generative AI tools are being used to create disinformation – they also play a critical role in detecting and stopping its spread, “advanced AI-driven systems can analyze patterns, language use and context to aid in content moderation, fact-checking and the detection of false information.” and in this case, the issue is a key component of the solution.
COMPUTING RESOURCES
Efficiency in technology, particularly in cost and energy consumption, is crucial for sustainable operations. Implementing green IT practices, like cloud computing and energy-efficient hardware, can reduce environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency. While S&P Global projects that the data center “industry will grow from about 35.4 gigawatts of capacity today to almost 82 gigawatts by the end of the decade, an 131% increase”, others are starting to cut back as there are indications that the demand may not be there as company’s reset their AI strategies as potential disruptive innovation reduces AI demand for computing resources. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, drove a trillion-dollar global equities sell-off in January, with the introduction of its low price R1 AI model, calling into question the need for expensive computer chips and resources. Regardless of how the AI market affects computing resource costs, companies will continue to focus on managing cloud computing and AI costs, leading to cost monitoring tools and refining cloud and AI strategies. This shift toward more efficient technologies alters the risk landscape, with companies needing to consider not just financial and operational risks but also environmental and regulatory risks.
CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity challenges of the past may seem trivial in light of new threats. Overall, the volume of cyber-attacks continued to grow in 2024, with a 75% increase in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Generative AI has led to a massive increase in phishing attempts and other social engineering related attacks as the tools and methods used by bad actors continue to evolve into automated, complete pipelines or “attack chains” of cyberattacks. These attack chains include text, images, voice, and sophisticated coding that hackers can use to automate the entire cyberattack process. Targets can be profiled using social media and online profiles and phishing attempts will grow to include voice and other deepfake content. Cyber-attacks may become more aggressive and continue to expand into physical threats and violence. The Big Four of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea will continue to remain active, engaging in espionage operations, cyber-attacks, and information operations aligned with their geopolitical interests. Hackers will continue to gather encrypted data, with the belief that quantum computing advances with allow them to decrypt data in the future. The combined threat environment, lack of resources and available talent may contribute to making the Chief Information Security Officer one of the worst jobs in business.
CONNECTIVITY
Convergence of land-based 5G networks and satellite networks promise to revolutionize data processing and connectivity, enabling real-time analytics and responsive systems. However, ensuring the security and reliability of edge devices and networks is essential for maximizing the potential of these technologies. This expands the risk landscape to include considerations of network security, data integrity, and operational resilience. Since its global rollout began in 2019, 5G technology has introduced unprecedented speed, reduced latency, and enhanced connectivity. These improvements have facilitated real-time data processing and seamless communication, enabling innovations across various sectors. Industries such as manufacturing and logistics have integrated Internet of Things (IoT) devices more effectively, leading to improved automation and efficiency. For instance, smart factories now utilize connected machinery that communicates in real-time, optimizing production lines and reducing downtime. For consumers, 5G supports high-definition streaming without buffering and has paved the way for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, offering immersive experiences in gaming and education. Additionally, smart home devices operate more cohesively, providing enhanced convenience and energy efficiency. Finally satellite networks continue to integrate with land-based cellular systems and will ultimately provide global access to users. Apple introduced emergency satellite SOS texting in 2022 and iOS 18 will expand texting capabilities via satellite networks beyond emergency use only. SpaceX launched their first “Starlink satellites with direct to cell capabilities” a year ago and continue to expand. The increase in interconnectivity means a corresponding increase in number of avenues through which bad actors could negatively affect manufacturers and consumers alike.
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