Technology is changing the way we live, work, and connect with the world. As we move through 2025, several exciting tech trends are reshaping industries and creating new opportunities for innovation. From smarter AI to the rise of virtual worlds, this year promises to be one of the most transformative yet. Let’s explore the top tech trends making headlines in 2025.

1. Generative AI goes mainstream

Artificial Intelligence has been evolving for years, but 2025 marks a major shift. Generative AI tools, like ChatGPT and image generators, are now being used in everyday business tasks—writing content, designing products, and even coding software. Companies are embedding AI into customer service, marketing, and app development to work faster and smarter.

Why it matters:
Generative AI is saving time and improving accuracy. Businesses that use AI tools can outpace their competitors in creativity and efficiency.

2. Quantum computing gets closer to reality

Quantum computing isn’t just science fiction anymore. Tech giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft are making serious progress. In 2025, we’re seeing the first signs of quantum computing being used in real-world situations, like drug development, financial modelling, and climate research.

Why it matters:
Quantum computers can solve problems that normal computers can’t. That means breakthroughs in science and innovation may come faster than ever before.

3. The rise of digital twins

A digital twin is a virtual version of a real-world object, system, or process. In 2025, businesses are using digital twins to simulate buildings, engines, cities—even people. These models help with testing, training, and decision-making without real-world risks.

Why it matters:
Digital twins reduce costs and improve safety. They’re already being used in manufacturing, healthcare, and smart cities.

4. Mixed reality: Blending real and virtual worlds

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have been around for years, but now they’re coming together in what’s called Mixed Reality (MR). With headsets like Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3, users can interact with both real and digital objects at once.

Why it matters:
MR is changing how we learn, play, and work. From virtual meetings to immersive training, the boundaries between physical and digital life are disappearing.

5. 6G hype begins

While 5G is still rolling out globally, discussions about 6G are heating up. Early tests show that 6G could be 100 times faster than 5G and enable instant communication between devices.

Why it matters:
6G could unlock new tech possibilities like real-time remote surgeries, AI-powered transportation, and fully connected smart cities.

6. Cybersecurity with AI defence

As technology grows, so do the threats. In 2025, AI is not just being used to attack systems—but to defend them. Smart security tools can detect and stop cyberattacks before they cause damage.

Why it matters:
Cybercrime is on the rise. Businesses and individuals need smarter ways to protect data, and AI-powered tools are leading the charge.

7. Sustainable tech is no longer optional

Green technology is now a core focus for companies. From eco-friendly data centres to low-energy chips, 2025 is all about reducing carbon footprints. Tech leaders are investing in clean energy, smarter recycling, and sustainable hardware design.

Why it matters:
Climate change is a global concern. Companies that adopt sustainable tech are not only helping the planet but also attracting eco-conscious consumers.

8. Smart wearables are getting smarter

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are becoming health hubs. In 2025, wearables are tracking more than just steps—they’re monitoring heart health, sleep quality, stress levels, and even blood sugar without a needle.

Why it matters:
Health tech is putting power into people’s hands. Early warnings can prevent serious health issues and improve lives.

9. Personalised everything

From music and shopping to education and entertainment, personalisation is a growing trend. Thanks to AI, platforms now offer highly customised experiences based on user behaviour, preferences, and habits.

Why it matters:
People want content and services that match their needs. Businesses that deliver tailored experiences see better engagement and customer loyalty.

10. Remote work tech evolves further

Remote work is here to stay, and the tools are evolving fast. In 2025, virtual collaboration platforms will use AI to improve communication, automate tasks, and simulate real office environments.

Why it matters:
Companies are hiring from all over the world. Strong remote tools help teams stay productive, connected, and creative—no matter where they are.

Final thoughts

2025 is a year of bold ideas and real progress. These tech trends show how fast the world is changing—and how important it is to stay informed. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or everyday user, these innovations are shaping your future. Staying ahead of the curve means embracing the tools and technologies that are redefining what’s possible.

The new agency in charge of regulating name, image, likeness deals in college sports sent a letter to schools Thursday saying it had rejected deals between players and donor-backed collectives formed over the past several years to funnel money to athletes or their schools.

Those arrangements hold no “valid business purpose,” the memo said, and don’t adhere to rules that call for outside NIL deals to be between players and companies that provide goods or services to the general public for profit.

The letter to Division I athletic directors could be the next step in shuttering today’s version of the collective, groups that are closely affiliated with schools and that, in the early days of NIL after July 2021, proved the most efficient way for schools to indirectly cut deals with players.

Since then, the landscape has changed yet again with the $2.8 billion House settlement that allows schools to pay the players directly as of July 1.

Already, collectives affiliated with Colorado, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia and others have announced they’re shutting down. Georgia, Ohio State and Illinois are among those that have announced plans with Learfield, a media and technology company with decades of licensing and other experience across college athletics, to help arrange NIL deals.

Outside deals between athlete and sponsor are still permitted, but any worth $600 or more have to be vetted by a clearinghouse called NIL Go that was established by the new College Sports Commission.

In its letter to the ADs, the CSC said more than 1,500 deals have been cleared since NIL Go launched on June 11, “ranging in value from three figures to seven figures.” More than 12,000 athletes and 1,100 institutional users have registered to use the system.

But the bulk of the letter explained that many deals could not be cleared because they did not conform to an NCAA rule that sets a “valid business purpose” standard for deals to be approved.

The letter explained that if a collective reaches a deal with an athlete to appear on behalf of the collective, which charges an admission fee, the standard is not met because the purpose of the event is to raise money to pay athletes, not to provide goods or services available to the general public for profit.

The same would apply to a deal an athlete makes to sell merchandise to raise money to pay that player because the purpose of “selling merchandise is to raise money to pay that student-athlete and potentially other student-athletes at a particular school or schools, which is not a valid business purpose” according to the NCAA rule.

A deal, however, could be approved if, for instance, the businesses paying the players had a broader purpose than simply acting as a collective. The letter uses a golf course or apparel company as examples.

“In other words, NIL collectives may act as marketing agencies that match student-athletes with businesses that have a valid business purpose and seek to use the student’s NIL to promote their businesses,” the letter said.

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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

It’s a regular occurrence on America’s crumbling infrastructure these days—you’re driving along and when suddenly there’s a hole or obstacle you can’t avoid. The noise is scary loud, you watch the dash, but no tire-pressure warning comes on. Did that damage anything? At this year’s IAA auto show in Munich, Global mega supplier ZF is introducing a Chassis Fitness Tracker system that will be able to inform drivers whether they need to pull over immediately, book a service visit ASAP, as soon as convenient, or whether there’s no need to worry. And by continually monitoring all such chassis bumps and bruises accrued over time, Chassis Fitness Tracker can leverage AI to predict the likely failure timing of various components and recommend their timely replacement.

Software Defined Feature, Hardware Enabled

Chassis Fitness Tracker is just one of many features that OEMs can pick and choose from among ZF’s suite of holistic chassis controls envisioned to be capable of running on the centralized computer architecture rolling out on most new vehicles now being launched. This system can accept input from existing chassis sensors in use today, but it is optimized for a new ZF hardware offering: the Smart Chassis Sensor. Integrated into a ball joint, it’s able to measure acceleration internally in all three dimensions to determine the relative movement of the vehicle body. It thus replaces numerous external sensors, some of which currently employ vulnerable external straps and levers. It entered series production this year on the Cadillac Celestiq.

Can Chassis Fitness Tracker Extend Suspension Life?

The sensors informing ZF’s Chassis Fitness Tracker are essentially mapping the surface of the roads the car drives down. ZF has studied business models for aggregating and selling this information to infrastructure maintenance organizations via V2X communications. This can in turn lead to improved roadways that are less damaging to the suspension, which might help everybody’s tires, shocks, and bushings last longer.

CubiX Tuner Chassis Controller

Rivaling similar offerings from other suppliers, ZF’s CubiX Tuner is a user interface that makes it easier for engineers to tune their brand’s particular ride and handling characteristics into a centralized computer architecture that may employ components shared across various brands or models. The idea is that once zonal architecture centralizes control of all chassis functions—damping, steering, braking, spring rates, stability control, even pitch-, yaw- and roll-control—all systems can operate in harmony. This allows the envelope of potential vehicle dynamic behavior to expand. Comfort mode can be more comfortable and less likely to induce motion sickness, while sport driving modes can permit more sportiness.

By-Wire Steering and Braking

ZF also announced it is supplying the steer-by-wire system we covered extensively in the Nio ET9, and that Mercedes-Benz has signed a contract to apply this system to an undisclosed future product. Electromechanical brake-by-wire is also offered. Each of these systems—as well as ZF’s sMOTION active chassis system (we’ve covered it on the Porsche Taycan and Panamera) bring with them additional sensing to better inform the Chassis Fitness Tracker and the promise of further expanding the envelope of what CubiX can accomplish in the programmable vehicle-dynamics realm.

SINGAPORE, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hikvision hosted its Shaping Intelligence 2025 Education Summit at Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East campus. The two-day event brought together more than 400 distinguished participants from across the globe, including educators, technology experts, industry partners, and clients-with a significant representation of university presidents and K-12 school principals-to explore the latest educational technology (EdTech) innovations and their transformative potential for the future of learning.

Hikvision highlights EdTech innovations for a promising future at the Shaping Intelligence 2025 Education Summit

Under the theme ‘EdTech for a Brighter Future’, the summit included impactful keynote presentations, enlightening case studies, and interactive product demonstrations. It also included a landmark signing of a strategic partnership agreement between ITE College East Singapore and Hikvision.

A strategic partnership agreement between ITE College East Singapore and Hikvision

The summit emphasized collaboration as the cornerstone of educational technology advancement. A historic moment was marked by the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Technical Education College East, Singapore, and Hikvision for smart education innovation.

The partnership represents more than an agreement-it’s a commitment to co-creating the future of technical education through intelligent technology solutions. Vivianna Wong, Vice President of Hikvision International Business Center and President of Hikvision Pan Asia Pacific Business Center, said, “Our goal is to bring smart solutions into real-world scenarios. In education, we’re using integrated technologies to support meaningful transformation. We’re helping make schools safer, classrooms smarter, and learning more accessible for everyone.”

Fostering growth through joint efforts

Throughout the summit, Hikvision’s partners and clients engaged in vibrant discussions, sharing their innovative solutions and success stories. These exchanges provided a platform for exploring cutting-edge technologies, applications, and best practices to enhance security, efficiency, and sustainability in education.

Compelling case studies from institutions across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe showcased regional educational digitalization trends and AI opportunities in learning environments. Dynamic panel discussions brought together diverse perspectives from educators, technologists, and industry leaders to advance educational development.

Hikvision’s commitment to education extends beyond technology. Through its STAR program, Hikvision collaborates with non-profit organizations to support communities and children in need. From China to Singapore, the Netherlands, and beyond, this program bridges education gaps in remote areas while introducing modern technologies to enrich children’s lives.

Unlocking future opportunities with AIoT-driven education solutions

At the summit, Hikvision introduced its comprehensive educational solution that addresses modern institutions’ evolving challenges.

Currently, Hikvision’s education products and solutions serve a wide range of users, including public K-12 schools, private K-12 schools, universities, and training schools-each with distinct needs and priorities. “Our solution aims to enhance campus safety, school management, and smart teaching,” said Yu Qifan, Senior Manager of the Education and Healthcare Vertical at Hikvision. “We’re proud to support institutions globally, and look forward to continuing this journey together.”

Accelerating smart classrooms with brand-new WonderHub

A major summit highlight was the unveiling of Hikvision’s new Select Series WonderHub-a powerful and interactive flat panel display (IFPD) designed to transform teaching and learning experiences.

This next-generation product runs the latest Android system, pre-installed Google apps, and features groundbreaking WonderOS 4.0 for smart teaching. Its innovative AI features, such as AI Identify, AI Q&A, and AI Meeting, were presented to demonstrate how they simplify teaching and make the process more intuitive for educators. The open architecture of WonderHub ensures compatibility with existing education software, simplifying implementation for institutions of all sizes.

Acknowledgments

Hikvision sincerely thanks to summit sponsors CWT, Ademco, and Certis for their invaluable support in making this transformative event possible. Their commitment to educational advancement enables industry gatherings that drive meaningful change in global education delivery.

Looking ahead, Hikvision will continue collaborating with its partners worldwide to explore new possibilities in EdTech, bringing about more sustainable changes and shaping a better world. The conversations, connections, and collaborations formed at the summit will continue to drive educational innovation, creating intelligent learning environments that empower educators and inspire students across the globe.

Tech Tactics is Sourcing Journal’s series with brands and technology companies to discuss their latest innovations.

Champs Sports is upgrading its retail experience with support from Teaneck, N.J.-based footwear company Aetrex.

More from Sourcing Journal

Last week, the apparel, footwear and accessories retailer—part of Foot Locker, Inc.—unveiled its new “Reimagined” store concept, aimed at delivering an enhanced customer journey through an immersive shopping environment. The initiative launched at shopping centers in two key markets—Brandon Exchange in Tampa and Washington Square in Portland—with redesigned stores that reflect Champs Sports’ commitment to “blending sport and lifestyle for a more engaging in-store experience,” according to Champs Sports.

The updated locations include family-friendly zones with dedicated footwear sections for women and kids, encouraging full-family shopping, as well as curated visual displays that spotlight featured brands. One of the most notable elements, however, is the digital integration powered by Aetrex, which includes advanced 3D foot-scanning technology designed to deliver precise fit recommendations. This innovation, along with other omnichannel touchpoints, supports a more personalized and seamless shopping experience from start to finish.

“The Champs Sports Reimagined store concept introduces features intended to enhance the customer journey for head-to-toe shopping, including measuring tools with [Aetrex’s] 3D scanning technology that help achieve a precise fit for shoes in a fun, immersive way and interactive screens for omnichannel exploration of extended product options,” Tony Aversa, senior vice president and general manager at Champs Sports, told Sourcing Journal.

To help consumers and retailers like Champs Sports find the right-fitting footwear, Aetrex offers 3D scanning technology like the Albert 3DFit Scanner. This tool combines precise 3D foot measurements with AI-driven footwear matching to recommend the best fit across fashion, sport and everyday styles.

In addition to enhancing the customer experience, the Albert 3DFit Scanner also provides retailers with valuable data to optimize marketing, store performance and product planning. According to Aetrex, this data can be used to deliver personalized digital marketing based on individual foot profiles, driving higher engagement and conversion rates.

“Studies have shown that…consumers would like to experience a fit technology when shopping for footwear, [and] Albert 3DFit helps retailers of all sizes address this need,” said Kumar Rajan, vice president of technology at Aetrex. “Having the industry’s largest technology development team, we were able to use our vast experiences, coupled with our ability to engineer our own hardware and software, to develop an innovative 3DFit experience that’s affordable for all interested retailers.”

From left to right: Tad Brown, CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Gov. Phil Murphy, Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and Greg Kha, CEO of GK Digital.

General Business

By Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief On Jul 10, 2025

The worlds of soccer, media and technology collided today at Newark’s Prudential Center, highlighting why New Jersey is in the driver’s seat when it comes to taking advantage of the next wave of innovation in global sports and entertainment.

Organized by GK Digital Ventures in collaboration with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), “The Global Game: The Future of Soccer, Tech & Media Summit” brought together top soccer executives, investors, team owners, media executives, tech leaders, and athletes for a day of future-focused discussions and networking. Key topics included AI-driven performance, fan engagement, streaming innovation, and the expanding global footprint of soccer.

GK Digital Ventures founder Greg Khan, a successful angel investor and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, told New Jersey Business that the event is a spotlight on the state, which has been building its entertainment, sports and technology ecosystem for years, “but has been a little bit under the radar.”

He said that the current FIFA Club World Cup games and next year’s FIFA 2026 World Cup games being played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford present an enormous economic opportunity. Combined with all FIFA-related games being played in the nation this year and next, Khan said the matches are expected to deliver $47 billion in economic output in the US, and $62 billion in global gross domestic product. Additionally, an estimated 290,000 jobs will be created in the US because of FIFA’s flagship events.

Khan said that soccer will not only take place in the stadium, but will also take place via media and technology and that the Garden State “has all the ingredients to be a powerhouse in this next chapter; from elite level soccer and iconic sporting venues, to

cutting-edge tech companies, a thriving media, and a dynamic investment community. There is real momentum here and today’s event is a celebration of what is possible.”

Gov. Phil Murphy focused on the games’ economic impact on the state as he took to the podium exclaiming, “Welcome to New Jersey, the soccer capital of the world!”

Murphy expects next year’s World Cup to have an economic impact in the “single-digit” billions of dollars, with some 14,000 to 15,000 jobs being created and between 1 million to 2 million visitors coming to the region. Meanwhile, the fan fest location at Liberty State Park is expected to see some 75,000 visitors per day.

“There is nowhere on the planet that is more prepared for next year than we are,” Murphy said, explaining that part of the reason why the state actively sought to play a major role in this year’s Club World Cup was to prep for next year.

Turning to innovation, the governor said that the state had lost its way in supporting the start-up community, but said his administration, for the past 7.5 years, has been trying to recapture the state’s rightful place in the innovation economy.

“So far, so good,” Murphy said, explaining that New Jersey today is in the top “handful” of states attracting venture capital money. He also mentioned New Jersey’s growing film industry, spotlighting Netflix’s planned 300-acre East Coast headquarters in Monmouth County, which is under construction, as well as the state’s 11 Strategic Innovation Centers focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence, the life sciences, fintech, manufacturing, information technology, and more.

The day-long event featured a variety of panel discussions with topics including Streaming the Global Game – The Future of Soccer Media; The Future of Soccer – Investment, Growth, and Global Expansion; The Marketer’s Perspective – Building Global Brands with Soccer; Tech and Data in Soccer – Enhancing Performance and Fan Experience; and more.

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