Cryptocurrencies and personal AI: Tech to watch out for in 2025

In December, Bitcoin, a well-known cryptocurrency, reached a significant milestone by surpassing $100,000. This event was marked by a humorous cartoon depicting Donald Trump holding a Bitcoin, which was displayed at a Coinhero store in Hong Kong. Although predicting the future is not possible, two tech editors have taken a closer look at what they believe will be important in the year 2025. The focus of their analysis is on the rise of cryptocurrencies and the increasing role of personal AI in our lives. As 2022 came to an end, the outlook for the cryptocurrency industry appeared grim. One of the most recognized companies in the sector, FTX, faced a crisis with a substantial amount of customer funds unaccounted for. In March 2024, the co-founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, was charged with defrauding customers and investors, which shook the confidence of many in the entire cryptocurrency market. It seemed that cryptocurrencies would remain a niche product, appealing to a limited audience. However, just a few months later, the industry was buzzing with renewed optimism. The catalyst for this change was the success of Donald Trump in the presidential election held on November 5. Many believed that his administration would be more favorable to the cryptocurrency sector, and early indications suggest that this may indeed be the case. In early December, Paul Atkins, a former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was appointed as the new chairman of the Wall Street regulator. Mr. Atkins is perceived as being more supportive of cryptocurrencies compared to the outgoing chairman, Gary Gensler. This announcement had a positive impact on the value of Bitcoin, which surged past the $100,000 mark. Geoffrey Kendrick, the global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, commented, 'With Trump winning, you can expect proactive regulations in 2025. Some negative regulations will be removed, allowing banks and other institutions to enter the cryptocurrency space. ' He specifically pointed to a piece of guidance issued by the SEC that has made it challenging for banks and financial firms to offer cryptocurrency services. If Trump follows through on his promise to make the United States a leader in the cryptocurrency market, it would represent a remarkable turnaround from 2021 when he was not particularly supportive of the industry. As we consider the future, we must also think about how much we want AI to know about us. With AI tools becoming integrated into our smartphones, such as those from Apple, Google, and Samsung, we are entering a new era where AI will play a significant role in our daily lives. However, this integration requires a certain level of trust. For instance, an AI tool can effectively manage your calendar if you grant it access to your schedule. But how much information should it have? Should it know about people you prefer to avoid or relationships you wish to keep private? Would you want it to summarize your therapy sessions or medical appointments? These are deeply personal matters, and the potential for embarrassment or misuse of this information raises important questions. Do we trust large tech companies with such sensitive data? Microsoft has been actively pursuing the development of a tool called Recall, which would take snapshots of users' laptop screens to help them locate content they may have forgotten. Although the company faced challenges in 2024 regarding this tool, they remain committed to the concept. Mustafa Suleyman, the head of AI at Microsoft, stated, 'We are transitioning into a fundamentally new age where AI will serve as a persistent and capable companion in our everyday lives. ' Despite the hurdles, Ben Wood, a chief analyst at CCS Insight, anticipates that more personalized AI services will emerge in 2025. He explained, 'The output will be continuously updated by drawing on evolving data sources, such as emails, messages, documents, and social media interactions. This will enable the AI service to be tailored specifically to an individual's communication style, needs, and preferences. ' However, Mr. Wood acknowledges that allowing AI access to personal information is a significant step. He emphasized, 'Trust will be essential.