Emerging Technologies to Watch

North Mondays Series: Episode 106

Keeping Up in 2025

Imagine you’re walking through a busy market.
New stalls spring up every second. Some catch your eye. Some fade away before you even blink.
That’s what technology feels like today.

If you run a business, lead a team, or even just care about carving out a future for yourself, you can’t afford to wander aimlessly anymore.
Fall behind today, and it’s not a slow slide. It’s a free fall.

But staying ahead isn’t about sprinting toward every new thing.
It’s about knowing which ones are worth your energy and how they might quietly (or not so quietly) change your world.

Let’s break it down.

The Challenge of Staying Current

Scrolling through tech blogs in the name of productivitywon’t cut it.
Trends shift fast. Noise drowns out real change.

Here’s why most businesses struggle:

• Information overload – Too much hype, too little context

• Skepticism – Every “next big thing” doesn’t deliver

• Short-term thinking – Focus on quarterly results, not future positioning

• Lack of technical knowledge – It’s hard to act on what you don’t understand

Falling into any of these traps puts you at risk.

You don’t have to turn yourself into a tech prophet.

But you do need a better compass that helps you sense real change early, before you’re forced to catch up the hard way.

Decentralized Technologies: The Rising Force

Once upon a time, decentralization was just crypto bros shouting on the internet.

Today? It’s a slow but steady reordering of power itself.

Decentralization simply means cutting out the middleman.

It’s people, businesses, and systems talking to each other directly—with fewer bottlenecks, more transparency, and more control.

Real-world examples:

• Blockchain for supply chain tracking – No single company controls the data

• Decentralized finance (DeFi) – Bypasses traditional banks

• Web3 applications – Users own their data and content

• Decentralized identity systems – Control your online identity without hassle

This shift won’t happen overnight.
But it’s already gaining momentum and it’s opening new business models, new risks, and new opportunities.

Technologies You Should Watch Right Now

These aren’t random buzzwords.
Each one is reshaping how business, society, and daily life work.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Everywhere

AI is no longer science fiction. It’s seeping into everything.

Virtual assistants handling customer service

Predictive tools helping teams sell smarter

AI designing logos, writing emails, even brainstorming product ideas

Ignore AI if you want.

It won’t return the favor.

Food for thought:

How are you already using AI and what’s one tedious task you secretly wish you never had to do again?

2. Decentralized Applications (dApps)

Instead of apps controlled by one company, dApps run on blockchain networks.

• Financial apps without banks

• Social networks without corporate owners

• Marketplaces without middlemen

Still early days—but the potential is huge.

Food for thought:
If users owned the platform you rely on today, would you still have the same edge?

3. Edge Computing

Instead of sending data to distant cloud servers, edge computing processes it closer to where it’s generated.

• Faster responses for smart devices

• Better privacy and security

• Less dependency on internet connections

For industries like healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, this could change everything.

Food for thought:
Where would lightning-fast local data give you the upper hand?

4. Extended Reality (XR)

It’s no longer just about gaming headsets and cartoonish avatars.

XR (virtual, augmented, and mixed realities) is slowly merging physical and digital worlds.

Train employees in VR

Let customers “try on” products virtually

Host meetings in 3D spaces instead of boring Zoom boxes

Food for thought:

Could an immersive experience help you connect, sell, or teach better?

5. Digital Identity and Privacy Tech

In a world where your information is currency, protecting it becomes survival.

Decentralized IDs

Privacy-first tech

Zero-knowledge proofs (proving you are legit without exposing all your info)

Trust won’t just be nice to have—it’ll be the winning strategy.

Food for thought:

Is customer data something you exploit—or something you fiercely protect and honor?

How to Keep Up Without Getting Overwhelmed

You don’t need to jump on every trend.
You need a smart filter.

Build These Habits:

• Set alerts for trusted sources (not just tech hype)

• Follow builders not just commentators—people who are creating new things

• Attend one major tech event each year, even virtually

• Run quarterly “future sessions” with your team to spot opportunities

• Experiment small—test ideas without betting the farm

The future rewards those who explore early, prepare quietly and act wisely.

Your Action Plan

• Pick one emerging technology from this list

• Learn about it for 30 minutes this week

• Ask yourself: “How could this hurt or help my business in 2-5 years?”

• Start a small experiment based on your answer

Remember, tiny drops of water make a mighty ocean.

Your Turn

Which emerging technology are you most curious about?

What’s one tech trend you think people are underestimating?

Reply and share your thoughts.

North Mondays is where you see tomorrow early—and act before others even notice. Stay sharp. Stay bold.