*Written by Marc Boudria, edited by Marina Fontoura and Lucia Erdmann
In Part 1, we explored how buzzwords are losing their luster, the rise of niche technologies, and the cross-disciplinary innovations shaping the future. But the story of 2025’s tech landscape doesn’t end there.
In this follow-up, we’ll examine overlooked and underfunded technologies with the potential to drive significant change and examine the societal and environmental challenges that could redefine priorities across industries. Finally, we’ll conclude with a thoughtful discussion of the future of innovation and the role we all play in shaping it.
This piece is based on the responses to a five-question survey completed by technologists, designers, and business leaders from around the world to provide a grounded perspective. Their insights offer a valuable window into the priorities and concerns within the tech industry.
Whether you’ve read Part 1 or are starting here, this piece stands on its own as a reflection on the forces pushing technology—and humanity—forward.
As industries face growing pressure to deliver real-world, cost-effective solutions to complex challenges, overlooked areas may finally receive the attention they deserve. Technologies like sustainable practices, ethical AI, and low-tech solutions designed for high-impact scenarios could gain significant traction.
Our survey respondents identified several areas, highlighting the barriers preventing their adoption and the impact they could have in 2025:
These technologies and practices reflect the untapped opportunities for driving meaningful progress. With the right investment and attention, they could unlock transformative potential across industries in the coming years.
At BetterEngineer, we’re proud to have a global outlook. Our work with an international team reminds us daily of the importance of looking beyond our own perspectives. We believe it’s essential to think globally about the forces shaping our shared future and the responsibilities we all carry as technologists, designers, and business leaders.
Global challenges like water scarcity, urbanization, and carbon management are not just local issues—they’re global imperatives that demand localized solutions. These pressures are driving industries to adopt technologies that align with the specific needs of their regions, sparking innovation in areas like smart infrastructure, regenerative agriculture, and circular supply chains. By tackling these challenges head-on, technology can move closer to addressing some of the world’s most urgent problems.
In 2025, societal and environmental challenges are expected to play an even more pivotal role in shaping priorities across industries. Respondents to our survey highlighted several key areas where these pressures could redefine the trajectory of technology, emphasizing both the opportunities and the responsibilities ahead.
The pressing need to address climate change will continue to drive demand for green technologies. Respondents highlighted "Green Coding" and energy-efficient software as emerging priorities, particularly as companies focus on reducing cloud computing’s energy consumption. Monitoring systems that track emissions from machines, vehicles, and processing systems are gaining traction, along with IT solutions supporting carbon credit trading markets.
The growing energy demands of AI, particularly those of GPU-intensive models, are another critical issue. Respondents pointed to the environmental impact of large-scale AI systems, emphasizing the need for sustainable alternatives like Liquid Neural Networks. Similarly, the proliferation of data centers and electric vehicles (EVs) underscores the urgent need for innovative power generation solutions, with nuclear-powered, self-sufficient data centers emerging as a potential game-changer.
As AI and robotics continue to advance, their societal implications, such as job displacement, are becoming more apparent. Some respondents suggested universal basic income (UBI) as a necessary measure to offset the economic impact of automation, funded by the productivity gains of AI and robotics. Others stressed the importance of policies that prioritize human well-being, reduce income inequality, and ensure technological advancements benefit everyone, rather than widening existing gaps.
At the same time, humans need to begin shifting back to embracing artisan creations. For too long, the skills of artisans have been devalued in favor of mass production and efficiency. The best use of human abilities lies in the expression of these artisan skills—whether through craftsmanship, creativity, or unique problem-solving. Humans performing repetitive tasks that machines could easily handle is no longer a sustainable use of talent in a world where automation is readily available. By valuing and fostering artisan skills, society can unlock the true potential of human creativity and ingenuity.
In fields like property insurance, climate change is already reshaping customer engagement. Better weather-related guidance, home-hardening initiatives, and proactive adaptation strategies are becoming critical as natural disasters increase in frequency and severity.
The development of AI governance remains a contentious issue. Respondents expressed concerns about unpredictable policy shifts, particularly as influential figures and corporations prioritize self-interest over broader societal good. The ethical implications of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) loom large, with calls for common-sense regulation and a proactive approach to managing its arrival.
Continued regional conflicts, along with tariffs and other economic factors, will have more influence on global tech strategies. Respondents also pointed to the rise of tech-driven economic impacts that are shaping market dynamics in unpredictable ways.
In a future shaped by automation and societal shifts, the role of entertainment as a public service was also highlighted. Respondents noted its potential to educate, inspire, and generate empathy, particularly in an era where the balance between productivity and quality of life becomes increasingly important.
These challenges illustrate how environmental, societal, and geopolitical pressures are converging to influence the tech landscape. As industries adapt to these shifts, 2025 may serve as a defining year for aligning technological progress with broader human and environmental priorities.
As we look toward 2025, a clear theme emerges: the need to move beyond the noise of hype and buzzwords to focus on meaningful, human-centered innovation. Across every section of this piece—from niche technologies and overlooked advancements to societal challenges and equitable progress—the responses highlight a shared desire to align technology with real-world needs and values.
Respondents repeatedly emphasized the importance of balance: between efficiency and sustainability, automation and creativity, and local solutions and global perspectives. Whether it’s advocating for smaller, more efficient AI models, embracing artisan craftsmanship, or addressing climate change through green technologies, the insights reveal a collective recognition that technology’s ultimate goal should be to enhance the human experience, not overshadow it.
At BetterEngineer, we believe in this balance. By connecting forward-thinking companies with skilled, passionate technologists, we’re working to build teams that create solutions aligned with these values. As we face the challenges and opportunities of 2025, our commitment is to help organizations innovate with purpose, ensuring their work has a meaningful, lasting impact.
The future may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: the power to shape it lies not just in the technologies we create but in how we choose to wield them. Together, we have the opportunity to redefine what it means to innovate—one thoughtful decision at a time.