Cryptocurrencies and Personal AI: Key Tech Trends to Watch in 2025.

Even AI can't see the future just yet, but two of our tech editors have taken a stab at predicting what might be trending in 2025.

As 2022 wrapped up, the outlook for the cryptocurrency scene was pretty grim.

One of the most well-known companies, FTX, had gone under, leaving $8 billion (£6.3 billion) of customer money missing.

By March 2024, co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for scamming customers and investors.

This whole mess shook the confidence of the entire industry.

It looked like cryptocurrencies would stay a niche market, attracting a passionate but still fairly small group of supporters.

Just a few months later, the vibe in the industry was buzzing with excitement again. The source of this enthusiasm? Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election on November 5.

People felt he would be more supportive of the cryptocurrency world, and so far, that seems to be true.

In early December, Trump announced he would nominate former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins for the top spot at the Wall Street regulator.

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Atkins is viewed as much more pro-cryptocurrency compared to the outgoing chairman, Gary Gensler.

This news sent the value of bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, skyrocketing past $100,000.

"With Trump winning you can imagine in 2025 you'll get proactive regulation. You'll get removal of some negative regulation, which will then allow banks and other institutions into the space," says Geoffrey Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered.

Mr. Kendrick specifically highlights a guideline from the SEC known as SAB 121, which has been in effect since 2022. This has created challenges for banks and financial companies looking to offer cryptocurrency services.

If he follows through on this, it could help Trump keep his July promise to turn the US into the global hub for cryptocurrency.

Delivering on that promise would be quite a shift from 2021, when Trump called Bitcoin a "scam."

Concept of cryptocurrency data protection with bitcoin coin and protective shield with access padlock in futuristic glowing low polygonal style on blue background. Abstract design vector illustration

AI Becomes More Personal

As AI tools start making their way onto our smartphones—thanks to Apple, Google, and Samsung rolling out features for photo editing, language translation, and web searches—we're entering a new phase where AI becomes a key player in our digital lives, offering more personal assistance than ever.

But it’s a bit of a gamble, right? We have to be willing to take that leap.

Take managing your calendar, for instance. An AI can handle your schedule like a pro, but only if you let it peek at your calendar. But how much access is too much?

To really be helpful, should it also know about the people you’d rather not run into or the relationships you want to keep under wraps?

Would you want it to summarize your therapy sessions or doctor visits?

That’s some pretty sensitive stuff, and if something went wrong, it could be both embarrassing and valuable if it got out. Can you really trust these big tech companies with that kind of info?

Microsoft is really pushing the envelope here. They faced some backlash in 2024 for showcasing a tool called Recall, which snapped pictures of laptop screens every few seconds to help users find content they couldn’t remember.

The product has undergone several changes, even though it was never officially released, but the company still supports it.

“I think we’re moving to a fundamentally new age where there will be ever present, persistent, very capable co-pilot companions in your everyday life,” the firm's head of AI, Mustafa Suleyman told me recently.

Ben Wood, the chief analyst at CCS Insight, believes that even with the hurdles we face, we can look forward to seeing more personalized AI services popping up in 2025.

"The output will be continuously updated by drawing on evolving data sources, such as emails, messages, documents and social media interactions.

“This will allow the AI service to be tuned specifically to a person's communication style, needs and preferences," he says.

But Mr Wood states that letting AI loose on your personal information will be a big step.

"Trust will be essential," says Mr Wood.

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Data Is On The Move

As more cash flows into AI, the demand for new datacentres is set to rise.

Running and training AI needs a ton of computing power, and it really shines with the latest chips and servers.

Over the next five years, major players like Google, Microsoft, and Meta could pump up to $1 trillion into datacentres, according to CCS Insight.

In Europe, from 2024 to 2028, we can expect data centre capacity to increase by about 9% each year, as reported by property services firm Savills.

However, these new facilities probably won’t pop up in the usual datacentre hotspots like London, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam.

Sky-high property prices in those cities—Savills notes that land in London can hit £17 million per acre—along with limited electricity supply, means developers will be scouting for other locations.

In the UK, cities like Cambridge, Manchester, and Birmingham might just be the next big spots for datacentre development.

Other European cities like Prague, Genoa, Munich, Dusseldorf, and Milan are also likely to be on the radar.

Nvidia's latest computer chip, which is set to power some of the new datacentres, is making waves in the AI market. Launched in March 2024, the Blackwell chip is anticipated to start shipping in large quantities by 2025.

This new tech is said to enable companies to train AI models four times quicker and run AI tasks 30 times faster than the current chips, as noted by Vivek Arya, a senior analyst at Bank of America Securities.

Reports suggest that Nvidia's major clients, including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Coreweave, will be the first to get their hands on this cutting-edge technology. However, other customers may face challenges in accessing the super chip, with Mr. Arya indicating that supply could be limited in 2025.

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The advancements in cryptocurrencies and personal AI in 2025 promise an exciting future. With more favorable regulations and growing institutional support, cryptocurrencies could see wider adoption, transforming the global financial landscape. The rise of personalized AI services offers tremendous potential, providing tailored experiences that enhance everyday life while maintaining privacy and trust.

The ongoing investment in data centers and cutting-edge technologies like Nvidia’s new chips will power these innovations, driving progress in AI and beyond. These developments are set to improve convenience, efficiency, and security, making 2025 a pivotal year for both the tech industry and consumers.