Discover the Future: Key Technology Trends in 2025—AI Agents and Smart Glasses Shaping Spatial Computing | EMARKETER Podcast

Jacob Bourne:

2025 will be a big year for AI agents, also called agentic AI. This means we’ll see more of these types of AI in action, which could greatly increase the use of AI while also introducing more risks.

Marcus Johnson:

Hey everyone! Today is Tuesday, January 21st. I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend for MLK Day. Welcome to Behind the Numbers, an EMARKETER Video podcast. I’m Marcus, and I’m here with two guests. First up, we have Jacob Bourne, our tech analyst from Northern California.

Jacob Bourne:

Hi, Marcus! Glad to be here.

Marcus Johnson:

And joining us from New York City is Gadjo Sevilla, our senior editor for tech and AI briefings.

Gadjo Sevilla:

Hey, Marcus! Happy to be here.

Marcus Johnson:

Great to see both of you! Let’s kick things off with a fun question: Which animal has the fastest metabolism? Take a guess!

Jacob Bourne:

Maybe a koala?

Marcus Johnson:

Good guess, but I’ll reveal the answer. Stanford University says it’s actually the hummingbird. Their tiny bodies and high activity levels give them a metabolism about a dozen times that of a pigeon!

Jacob Bourne:

Wow, that’s interesting!

Marcus Johnson:

Hummingbirds have to eat often too, consuming one and a half to three times their body weight daily. Quite a lively existence!

Gadjo Sevilla:

Absolutely! They’re always on the move, right?

Marcus Johnson:

Exactly! Anyway, today’s main topic is technology trends and predictions for 2025. We’ve got some exciting insights to share.

Gadjo Sevilla:

Hope we can keep this brief before I feel like I’m going to die of hunger!

Jacob Bourne:

Don’t worry, we’ll make it quick!

Marcus Johnson:

Let’s dive into our predictions for 2025. Jacob, you’re up first. What do you foresee?

Jacob Bourne:

I believe 2025 will be the year of AI agents, or agentic AI. These AI tools can operate more independently than traditional chatbots. They can handle tasks like shopping, booking flights, or managing investments. This new level of autonomy will greatly boost AI use and present new risks.

Marcus Johnson:

Interesting! Gadjo, what’s your take?

Gadjo Sevilla:

I’m focusing on smart glasses. They’re becoming a key platform for integrating AI and mixed reality in both consumer and business sectors. At CES last week, we saw a lot of different smart glasses. They could be as influential in the next decade as smartwatches have been in the last.

Marcus Johnson:

Let’s dig deeper into these trends. Jacob, what else can you tell us about AI agents?

Jacob Bourne:

AI agents are tools that can perform complex tasks without constant user prompts. They can understand overarching goals and work to achieve them. Major companies like Oracle and Microsoft are starting to deploy these agents, but risks like prompt injection remain a concern.

Marcus Johnson:

So, there’s a balance between usefulness and risk management, right?

Jacob Bourne:

Yes! While these AI agents can free up time for companies, they do introduce potential dangers, like identity theft, if not properly managed.

Gadjo Sevilla:

And with smart glasses, we’re seeing a shift towards practical applications too. Though they have limitations, their adoption is likely to grow steadily.

Marcus Johnson:

It’s clear that both trends have potential but also challenges. It’ll be interesting to see how they develop!

Jacob Bourne:

Absolutely! AI agents will likely connect with each other, which raises all sorts of questions about privacy and security.

Marcus Johnson:

Great insights, everyone! Today’s discussion on AI agents wins my vote. Their applications seem particularly promising. Imagine a telecom company using an AI agent to answer employee questions about policies—that could save time and improve efficiency.

Thank you both for joining. And thanks to our editing team as well. We’ll be back soon with more insights!