Predictions for 2025 | Future timeline

Read 595 predictions for 2025, a year that will see the world transform in big and small ways; this includes disruptions throughout our culture, technology, science, health and business sectors. It’s your future, discover what you’re in for.

Quantumrun Foresight prepared this list; A trend intelligence consulting firm that uses strategic foresight to help companies thrive from future trends in foresight. This is just one of many possible futures society may experience.

Fast forecasts for 2025

Global self-healing concrete market surges by 26.4%, hitting over USD $1 billion. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
Sun cycle brings more northern lights. Likelihood: 80 percent.link
Baltic States decouple from Russian power grid. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
The world's first artificial shooting star display happens. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
Total lunar eclipse (Full Beaver Blood Moon) occurs. Likelihood: 80 percent.link
VinFast becomes the world's first automaker to commercialize XFC (Extreme Fast Charge) electric batteries. Likelihood: 65 percent.link
The ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) is completed. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
Asia Pacific's ageing market value is worth USD $4.56 trillion Likelihood: 80 percent.link
Meta releases its third-generation smart AR glasses. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is launched. Likelihood: 80 percent.link
The world's first ammonia-fueled very large crude carriers (VLCCs) begin their maiden journey. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
Hydrogen airships make a comeback with new prototypes. Likelihood: 50 percent.link
Global foldable smartphone shipments reach 55 million units. Likelihood: 80 percent.link
Global cybercrimes cost USD $10.5 trillion in damages. Likelihood: 80 percent.link
Plastic leakage to oceans is reduced by 30% from 2023 levels. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
Global AI investments reach USD $200 billion. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
The International Seabed Authority's member nations finalize regulations on deep sea mining. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile launches the world's first off-road hydrogen-powered car racing tournament. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
Growth in traditional tech spending is driven by just four platforms: cloud, mobile, social, and big data/analytics. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
New technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and augmented and virtual realities represent over 25 percent of global Information and Communications Technology spending. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's deep-space habitat space station, Gateway, is launched, allowing for more astronauts to conduct research particularly for Mars exploration. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The Chile-based Extremely Large Telescope (ETL) is completed and able to gather 13 times more light than existing Earth-based counterparts. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Martian Moons Exploration probe enters Mars' orbit before moving on to its Phobos moon to collect particles. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
Orbital Assembly Corporation's space hotel "Pioneer" starts orbiting around Earth. Likelihood: 50 percentlink
NASA's "Artemis" spacecraft lands on the moon. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The European Union implements the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for large companies with more than 250 employees. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments more than doubled globally, accounting for 15% of all investments. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
The European Union implements the final batch of stricter global bank capital rules. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
76% of financial institutions globally have increasingly used cryptocurrencies or blockchain technologies since 2022 as a hedge against inflation, a form of payment, and for lending and borrowing. Likelihood: 75 percentlink
90% of companies have seen revenue from intelligent (AI-powered) services increase since 2022, with 87% identifying intelligent products and services as crucial to their business strategies, particularly among the manufacturing and MedTech industries. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
Aeronautics startup Venus Aerospace conducts the first ground test of its hypersonic aircraft, Stargazer, designed to perform ‘one-hour global travel.’ Likelihood: 60 percentlink
BepiColombo, a spacecraft launched in 2018 by the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, finally enters Mercury's orbit. Likelihood: 65 percentlink
Mercedes-Benz and H2 Green Steel partner to help the automaker shift to fossil-free steel as part of a move to zero-carbon auto production by 2039. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The luxury industry secondhand market grows almost three times faster than the firsthand market annually (13% versus 5%, respectively). Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The European Space Agency starts drilling the Moon for oxygen and water to support a manned outpost. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The Community of European Railways launches the independent ticketing platform, bringing together all available train fares and timetables across Europe. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The low-cost reusable rocket engine demonstrator fuelled by liquid methane, Prometheus, begins fuelling the Ariane 6 rocket launcher. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
Robotic, mind-controlled prosthetics become widely available. link
Global number of Internet connected devices reaches 76760000000link
Abu Dhabi "Masdar City" is fully builtlink
Dubai's "Dubailand" is fully builtlink
Global reserves of Nickel is fully mined and depletedlink
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) will become the leading cause of liver transplants link
New device diagnoses pancreatic cancer earlier and faster link
The Giant Magellan Telescope is scheduled for completion. link
Africa's Green Wall of drought-resistant trees restricts land degredation is completed. link
Male contraceptive pills become widely available. link
Severe food allergies become treatable. link
Blood test detecting any virus you have had becomes widespread. link
Electronic devices can be charged using Wi-Fi. link
Smart kitchens that turn cooking into an interactive experience enter the marketplace. link
Brain-reading devices allows wearers to learn new skills quicker. link
Prescription drugs can be brewed at home. link
30 percent of corporate audits will be performed by artificial intelligence. link
Planned completion of the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. link
Drone usage in agriculture is adopted globally. link
Freelancers juggling multiple jobs simultaneously become the majority workforce in the US, putting pressure on the federal government to enact updated worker rights and safety laws to protect these types of workers. (Likelihood 70%)link
After India and the US signed an agreement to cooperate in the civil nuclear energy sector in 2008, the US builds six nuclear power plants in Indian provinces like Maharashtra and Gujarat. Likelihood: 70%link
Since a military standoff in the Doklam Plateau in 2017, India and China have bolstered their infrastructure and military in the Himalayas as they prepare for their second confrontation. Likelihood: 50%link
Australia, the United States, India, and Japan establish a joint regional infrastructure scheme to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative. Likelihood: 60%link
India funds defense infrastructure in island countries like Mauritius, Seychelles, among other Asian nations to counter China's expansion in the region. Likelihood: 60%link
India partners with Vietnam and funds a nuclear weapon program, curbing China's dominance in the region. Likelihood: 40%link
India and Russia spend $30 billion on energy deals with each other, up from USD 11 billion. Likelihood: 80%link
From this year onward, China deepens its partnership with Russia by assisting in the expansion of Russian arctic ports that enable the navigability of the Northern Sea Route for shipping routes. This initiative is a part of Russia's Polar Silk Road. Likelihood: 70%link
China launches Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry (eXTP), a $440-million X-ray telescope led by the China National Space Administration this year. Likelihood: 75%link
China builds a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier by this year. Likelihood: 70%link
Brain-reading devices allows wearers to learn new skills quicker link
Bioengineered skin grafts replicates real skin becomes widely available link
US military uses electricity to stimulate soldiers' brains, increase reaction times and improve attention spans link
Automated construction crews meant to replace human workers begin trails in locations worldwide link
Drone usage in agriculture is adopted globally link
Africa's Green Wall of drought-resistant trees restricts land degredation is completed link
Male contraceptive pills become widely available link
Severe food allergies become treatable link
Blood test detecting any virus you have had becomes widespread link
Electronic devices can be charged using Wi-Fi link
Smart kitchens that turn cooking into an interactive experience enter the marketplace link
Since 2019, Ireland has opened 26 new embassies or consulates as part of its 'Global Ireland' initiative. Likelihood: 100%link
Prescription drugs can be brewed at home link
Microsoft ends support of Windows 10. link
Norway bans new sales of gas-powered cars, giving preference to electric cars. link
Globally, more trips will be made using car sharing programs than privately owned cars link
30% of corporate audits will be performed by artificial intelligence. link
Bioengineered skin grafts replicates real skin becomes widely available. link
New device diagnoses pancreatic cancer earlier and faster. link
Robotic and are mind-controled prosthetics become widely available. link
Automated construction crews meant to replace human workers begin trails in locations worldwide. link
US military uses electricity to stimulate soldiers' brains, increase reaction times and improve attention spans. link

The European Union implements the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for large companies with more than 250 employees. link
NASA's "Artemis" spacecraft lands on the moon. link
Orbital Assembly Corporation's space hotel "Pioneer" starts orbiting around Earth. link
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Martian Moons Exploration probe enters Mars' orbit before moving on to its Phobos moon to collect particles. link
The Chile-based Extremely Large Telescope (ETL) is completed and able to gather 13 times more light than existing Earth-based counterparts. link
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's deep-space habitat space station, Gateway, is launched, allowing for more astronauts to conduct research particularly for Mars exploration. link
New technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and augmented and virtual realities represent over 25 percent of global Information and Communications Technology spending. link
Growth in traditional tech spending is driven by just four platforms: cloud, mobile, social, and big data/analytics. link
The luxury industry secondhand market grows almost three times faster than the firsthand market annually (13% versus 5%, respectively). link
The European Union implements the final batch of stricter global bank capital rules. link
76% of financial institutions globally have increasingly used cryptocurrencies or blockchain technologies since 2022 as a hedge against inflation, a form of payment, and for lending and borrowing. link
90% of companies have seen revenue from intelligent (AI-powered) services increase since 2022, with 87% identifying intelligent products and services as crucial to their business strategies, particularly among the manufacturing and MedTech industries. link
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments more than doubled globally, accounting for 15% of all investments. link
Aeronautics startup Venus Aerospace conducts the first ground test of its hypersonic aircraft, Stargazer, designed to perform ‘one-hour global travel.’ link
BepiColombo, a spacecraft launched in 2018 by the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, finally enters Mercury's orbit. link
Mercedes-Benz and H2 Green Steel partner to help the automaker shift to fossil-free steel as part of a move to zero-carbon auto production by 2039. link
30% of corporate audits will be performed by artificial intelligence. link
Globally, more trips will be made using car sharing programs than privately owned cars link
Norway bans new sales of gas-powered cars, giving preference to electric cars. link
Microsoft ends support of Windows 10. link
Prescription drugs can be brewed at home link
Brain-reading devices allows wearers to learn new skills quicker link
Smart kitchens that turn cooking into an interactive experience enter the marketplace link
Electronic devices can be charged using Wi-Fi link
Blood test detecting any virus you have had becomes widespread link
Severe food allergies become treatable link
Male contraceptive pills become widely available link
Africa's Green Wall of drought-resistant trees restricts land degredation is completed link
Hepatitis C is eradicated link
Drone usage in agriculture is adopted globally link
Automated construction crews meant to replace human workers begin trails in locations worldwide link
U.S. military uses electricity to stimulate soldiers' brains, increase reaction times and improve attention spans link
Bioengineered skin grafts replicates real skin becomes widely available link
Robotic, mind-controlled prosthetics become widely available. 1,link2

New device diagnoses pancreatic cancer earlier and faster link
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) will become the leading cause of liver transplants link
Cost of solar panels, per watt, equals 0.8 US dollars link
Global reserves of Nickel is fully mined and depleted link
Dubai's "Dubailand" is fully built link
Abu Dhabi "Masdar City" is fully built link
World population forecasted to reach 8,141,661,000 link
Share of global car sales taken by autonomous vehicles equals 10 per cent link
World sales of electric vehicles reaches 9,866,667 link
Average number of connected devices, per person, is 9.5 link
Global number of Internet connected devices reaches 76,760,000,000 link
Predicted global mobile web traffic equals 104 exabytes link
Global Internet traffic grows to 398 exabytes link
Worst case forecasted rise in global temperatures, above pre-industrial levels, is 2 degrees Celsius link
Forecasted rise in global temperatures, above pre-industrial levels, is 1.5 degrees Celsius link
Optimistic forecasted rise in global temperatures, above pre-industrial levels, is 1.19 degrees Celsius link