For the second year in a row, top tech leaders selected artificial intelligence as the most important current technology. IEEE surveyed 350 CIOs, CTOs, IT directors, and other global technology leaders for its now-annual report, “The Impact of Technology in 2025 and Beyond: An IEEE Global Study.”
More than half ranked artificial intelligence—including predictive and generative AI, machine learning, and natural language processing—at the top. Cloud computing was second, and robotics came in third. Other technologies the experts say will make an impact in the coming year include extended reality, the industrial Internet of Things, quantum computing, and electric vehicles.
The tech leaders—from Brazil, China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States—shared how their companies plan to use AI and what skills they will be looking for in new hires for related jobs.
The executives also reported that they plan to incorporate more robotics and quantum computing applications into their operations this year.
Changing attitude toward AI
Most respondents indicated they are ready to embrace AI. Twenty percent said they regularly use generative AI and that it has added value to their operations. Twenty-four percent said they recognize the technology’s benefits and plan to explore its practical applications. More than 30 percent said they have high expectations for AI and plan to experiment with it on small projects.
Some ways that AI will be used by the 350 CIOs, CTOs, IT directors, and other global technology leaders surveyed.IEEE Transmitter
Some leaders (18 percent), however, acknowledged that they have experienced problems and are reconsidering AI’s use in their business.
When asked to select from a list of potential uses for AI applications, 48 percent of the leaders chose “real-time cybersecurity vulnerability identification and cyberattack prevention.” Thirty-nine percent called it an aid with “running educational activities such as customized learning, tutoring systems, and chatbots.” Thirty-five percent chose “assisting with or accelerating software development.” Automating customer service (28 percent), accelerating disease mapping and drug discovery (26 percent), and automating or stabilizing a utility’s power sources (25 percent) were other applications selected.
“AI can help solve urgent global challenges,” IEEE Fellow Houbing Song said in an interview with IEEE Transmitter about the results. “Our society will be more prosperous, productive, innovative, and secure from its use.”
Skills needed for AI jobs
With the anticipated increase in AI program use, executives said they will look to add people with specific skills. The top five they listed were software development, experience with AI ethical practices, data analysis, data modeling and processing, and robotics programming.
Robotics and quantum computing make inroads
The study found that companies around the world plan to increase their use of robotics this year—specifically, humanoid robots—to automate tasks, improve productivity, and reduce costs. Eighteen percent of the tech leaders expect to have them fully implemented into their operations this year or are already using the robots, 35 percent expect to start incorporating them into their operations, and 37 percent are still considering how to introduce them.
Some companies plan to use robotic systems to automate their cybersecurity programs and respond autonomously in real time to cyberattacks. More than 40 percent expect to start incorporating the programs, while about one third said they will fully implement them this year.
“Quantum technology is the next frontier of knowledge, and there are many efforts to make it more practical for industry.” —Euclides Chuma
Quantum computing will be increasingly used this year, according to the survey. Quantum computing machines use quantum bits, or qubits, to encode information—which allows them to perform multiple operations simultaneously, so they can solve complex problems more quickly. Thirty percent of respondents expect to fully implement the technology this year, 35 percent plan to introduce it into their operations, and 28 percent are still making up their minds. More than 40 percent of businesses said they plan to install quantum computers in the next three years.
“Quantum technology is the next frontier of knowledge, and there are many efforts to make it more practical for industry,” IEEE Senior Member Euclides Chuma told IEEE Transmitter.
The survey asked the tech leaders which industry sectors are most likely to be impacted by technology. Forty-five percent said telecommunications, 37 percent identified banking and financial services, and 32 percent listed media and entertainment.
You can read more details about the survey and what IEEE’s young professionals say are other important technologies this year on IEEE Transmitter.
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