Is 2025 the Age of Reason for the Tech Ecosystem?

In 2025, companies will be more focused on what actually works. But how will the tech ecosystem evolve in this tension? While AI is at the center of many developments, the "race to AI" has often ended in costly disillusionment. Pilot projects and investments, such as Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant, have often fallen short of expectations—whether due to high costs, a lack of skills, or the realization that sustainable results cannot be achieved without a clear strategy. This is not to say that companies should abandon AI integration projects. It is simply a technology that should be considered as part of a long-term business plan, rather than overvalued in the short term.

Where is the value in AI?

By 2025, the focus will shift to more targeted use cases where AI can add real value. The Stargate project announced by the Trump administration may be the biggest AI project of all time—but even Elon Musk doubts that the gigantic sums will actually be invested. The costs are increasingly being weighed against the benefits. In addition, the necessary precision of the technology will have to be reassessed, especially in sensitive areas such as healthcare—where 80 or 90 percent accuracy is not enough.

Technological progress will evolve from a "new at all costs" culture of innovation to a demand-driven approach. Established technologies will remain central communication channels for businesses. The seemingly unstoppable "race to the cloud" may also slow. This is because companies are increasingly realizing that on-premises systems can be just as important. Hybrid approaches that integrate both cloud and on-prem solutions often provide the optimal balance between flexibility, security, and cost. With regulations such as DORA and NIS 2, as well as an increasing number of cyber threats, protecting sensitive data is becoming essential for organizations.

Cybersecurity as a top priority

This is because the attack surface continues to expand with the adoption of remote work, cloud computing, and IoT devices. Technologies such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and threat intelligence sharing are experiencing a renaissance. They have worked well in the past and can be seamlessly combined with new developments. In 2025, organizations will critically evaluate existing systems for vulnerabilities and invest in technologies that address rapidly changing regulatory and security requirements. While the extent of the impact remains to be seen, there is no doubt that the Trump administration will have a significant impact on the global tech ecosystem.

As the US is the origin of many technological innovations, far-reaching decisions there will also have an impact in Europe—especially when it comes to the regulation of AI and big tech companies. For example, the likely increase in trade tariffs will put even more cost pressure on companies. European companies will be forced to optimize cost structures and focus more on automation and increasing efficiency. The year 2025 will be characterized by a realistic, pragmatic approach. Rather than being driven by hype, companies will make conscious decisions that focus on long-term stability, security and operational resilience. In a world of complexity and uncertainty, the technology ecosystem will focus less on disruptive change and more on continuous improvement and strategic foresight.

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