Emerging technologies have been at the forefront of industry discussions for years, with many predicting that they would disrupt sectors in a significant way. However, a recent survey conducted by GlobalData’s Tech Sentiment Polls for Q1 2025 suggests that the adoption of major emerging technologies has slowed slightly in the first quarter of the year.
The survey revealed that industry respondents now believe that six out of seven of the most significant emerging technologies will take longer to disrupt their sectors or may not have the impact they previously thought. From Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, the share of respondents indicating that their sector is already being disrupted by cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, robotics, and augmented reality has decreased slightly. Only the metaverse saw a rise in respondents who believe that it is already disrupting sectors, although nearly half of the respondents believe it never will.
The survey also showed that the proportion of respondents indicating that their sector will be disrupted at some point in the next decade or not at all by these technologies has shifted slightly as well. While respondents remain buoyant about the overall value of these technologies with high percentages believing that robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, augmented reality, and the internet of things will live up to their hype, the metaverse seems to have less support with only 26% believing in its value.
The report does not provide specific reasons for the tempering of expectations, but it was conducted during a period of global uncertainty, including the first two and a half months of the new Trump administration in the US. The uncertainty surrounding the administration’s policies, particularly in relation to global trade and geopolitical issues like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, may have contributed to businesses being more cautious about adopting emerging technologies.
Despite the slowdown in adoption, the survey respondents remain optimistic about the potential of these technologies. The survey highlights the importance of staying informed about the latest developments in emerging technologies and seeking professional advice before making any decisions based on this information.
“Emerging tech adoption slows amid global uncertainty” was originally published by Verdict, a GlobalData-owned brand. The information presented on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as advice. It is recommended to seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content provided.
