Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a promise of the future, but an engine that is redefining the present in virtually all industries. This has been found by the digital Enterprise Show (DES 2025), which made Malaga the world capital of innovation for several days. More than 600 experts, researchers and managers analyzed how technologies such as generative AI, quantum computing or hyperautomatization are transforming economy, politics and society.
In addition, they agreed that the ethical dimension and digital leadership will be as important as technical advances to consolidate a sustainable model.
10 trends that will mark the future of AI and technology
From the debate ten great trends arise that will not only mark the current year, but will lay the foundations of the digital ecosystem of the next decade. From the struggle for geopolitical leadership to the rise of new professional profiles, Des 2025 has drawn a strategic map that will serve as a reference to governments, companies and universities in its path to the new technological era.
- Geopolitical and digital leadership. The technological dependence of Europe against powers such as the United States and China remains a point of vulnerability. Experts warned that the lack of investment in science and training, as well as talent escape towards more solid ecosystems, are leaving the continent in a situation of critical dependence. “Europe cannot afford to be only an innovation consumer, it must become a creator,” they said in the forum. To this is added the role of technology as a defense and cybersecurity engine, an increasingly decisive element in a context of geopolitical instability.
- Generative AI boom. The generative AI is consolidated as star technology, with forecasts to achieve a global market of 900,000 million dollars in 2026. This ability to create text, images, code and solutions autonomously is transforming both public administration and large corporations. “We are entering a phase where AI not only optimizes, but generates new value in multiple sectors,” the specialists agreed. The impact will be transversal: from improving the productivity of workers to allow governments to provide more efficient and personalized services to citizens.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a promise of the future, but an engine that is redefining the present in virtually all industries
- The jump to the LQM. Beyond the current language models (LLM), which remain statistical tools, a new border emerges: LQM (Large Quantum Models). These systems, supported by quantum computing, can integrate physics, chemistry and biology to offer a deeper understanding of the world. Signatures such as Sandboxaq are already developing these approaches. As stated in DES 2025, this evolution will allow AI to generate estimates to really transform complex environments, such as biomedical research or material design. It is a paradigm leap that could redefine the role of artificial intelligence in science.
- Ethics and conscious use of technology. The ethical debate on AI was positioned as an essential axis. The need to catalog and evaluate AI systems according to their level of risk was one of the main recommendations. “Technology must be at the service of the human being, not vice versa,” they warned in Congress. In addition, it was proposed to incorporate profiles of the responsible, ethics committees and specialized offices in the first phases of project implementation. Universities and regulatory bodies will also have to strengthen the humanistic component in academic training, guaranteeing that technological progress is accompanied by moral and social development.
- More hyperautomatization. Hyperautomatization is transforming areas such as retail, human resources and logistics. Des 2025 revealed that in the coming years the non -human digital identities will be multiplied by 50, which represents a challenge of safety and credential management. Automation will allow employees to freely release repetitive tasks and improve operational efficiency, but also requires designing control and auditing mechanisms that avoid vulnerabilities. The great challenge will be to balance the adoption speed with a robust data protection strategy and human supervision in critical decision making.
- Cybersecurity in front of AI. One in five crimes is already a computer scientist in Spain, according to data from the National Police, and the upward trend concerns both large corporations and SMEs. AI is being used both to attack and defend, which generates a continuous risk environment. DE 2025 experts recommended including protection mechanisms from the design of any system, betting on robust models and permanent monitoring. In addition, they warned that 60% of SMEs do not invest in cybersecurity, which makes them easy objectives. The call is clear: digital protection cannot remain optional.
- Data leadership. The data is consolidated as the most valuable asset for any organization. However, 65% of managers admit not to understand the information with which they work, and 58% recognize making decisions with inconsistent data. This deficit hinders the transition to a single digital market in Europe. The key is to promote interoperability and establish standards that allow you to share data with confidence. As discussed in Malaga, only then can the potential of advanced analytics, the data of the data and its connection as a competitiveness engine take advantage.
- Quantum computing, a future with challenges. Quantum computing is called to be one of the great engines of the next digital era. Its market will reach 72,000 million dollars in 2035, but will not be exempt from challenges. One of the most urgent is the impact on cryptography: by 2030, many current encryption systems could be obsolete. The specialists proposed hybrid strategies that combine traditional algorithms with post -surmical formulas, in addition to adopting Zero Trust models to shield safety. The transition will be complex, but essential to guarantee a reliable digital future.
- Immersive upward technologies. The augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) is emerging as protagonists in the European productive fabric. With an annual growth rate of 40.96% between 2025 and 2033, these technologies begin to integrate into sectors such as the manufacturing industry, health, retail and entertainment. During the congress it was stressed that its potential goes beyond leisure, offering training, simulation and collaboration environments that can accelerate innovation. The key to its expansion will be to guarantee accessible immersive experiences and with a clear return for companies.
- New digital competitions. Talent remains the key piece of technological gear. In Spain there are already more than 4,000 uncovered vacancies in areas of AI and data, especially in emerging disciplines such as Computer Vision and Ethics. DES 2025 insisted that training in digital and social competences should be a priority. It is not just about learning to program, but also of promoting skills such as critical thinking, creativity and ethics. Companies that attract and retain this talent will be better positioned in an increasingly competitive and global market.
