SXSW 2025: Tech Trends for 2025, According to Amy Webb

At the conference SXSW this year, the futuristic Amy Webb, CEO of Future Today Institute and teacher at NYU Stern School of Business, presented the 18th edition of Tech Trends Report. Webb shared a data-driven analysis of technology trends for 2025. Read on to learn more!

Multiple Agent Systems (MAS)

At the beginning of his presentation, Amy Webb highlighted the immense potential of Multiple Agent Systems (MAS) when discussing how these AI agents work together to solve complex problems. Unlike traditional AI systems, which operate in isolation, MAS consist of multiple AI agents that collaborate with each other, exchanging information and assigning tasks to achieve a common goal.

DARPA Using Multiple Agents to Disarm Bomb

A striking example presented by Webb it was the experiment conducted by DARPA, in which three autonomous agents, called Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, were assigned to defuse bombs in a virtual environment. These agents self-organized and communicated with each other to decide which tool to use and in what order, demonstrating an impressive capacity for adaptation and optimization.

These autonomous agents used language models GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. During interactions, direct communication between agents, made possible by the use of text as input and output in the LLMs, allowed for impressive dynamism in the exchange of information and in the execution of tasks. One example was Alpha's initiative in assuming a spontaneous leadership role, coordinating the actions of the other agents without any prior instruction from the researchers.

Minecraft Experiment

Webb mentioned the experiment carried out by the startup Altera, which unleashed hundreds of autonomous AI agents into the game Minecraft to study collective intelligence. These agents formed alliances, created a trade network, and even drafted a constitution using the Google Docs. However, not all agents behaved in an exemplary manner; some spread misinformation and evangelized a fictional religion, showing that although technology is powerful, it also presents ethical and control challenges.

Artificial intelligence and advanced sensors

A convergence between AI and advanced sensors is redefining our interaction with the physical world. With the incorporation of intelligent algorithms and high-precision sensing devices, we are experiencing a revolution in several sectors, from healthcare, where diagnoses can be made with greater precision, to agriculture, where sensors monitor and optimize crop conditions in real time, for example. This integration allows for a faster and more accurate response to needs, significantly improving efficiency and quality of life.

Microscopic Fitbit in dogs

These sensors transmit data to AI systems, which can then make accurate, personalized recommendations. For example, if Kevin start gaining weight, the system Microscopic Fitbit (a tiny wearable, usually implantable, device designed to monitor vital signs and other health metrics) injected into the dog can collect real-time data about its health and physical activity, and then decide that it needs more exercise and, accordingly, activate videos of dogs on the YouTube to encourage Kevin to exercise.

Webb also mentioned the new language “Droid Speak“, developed by ecosystem, which allows multi-agent systems to communicate using mathematics instead of human language. This significantly increases the efficiency of communication between agents, allowing them to operate up to 100 times faster than systems based on human language. This innovation eliminates the limitations and inaccuracies of human languages, making AI systems more effective and faster in their operations.

Bioengineering and metamaterials

A bioengineering is breaking down barriers by combining biology and technology to create innovative solutions. Webb highlighted the advancement of generative biology, which allows us to predict the structure and interactions of biological molecules such as proteins, DNA and RNA. With this technology, experiments that were previously impossible can now be performed quickly and accurately.

Rice with cow genes

South Korean scientists have recently developed a technique to grow bovine cells on rice grains, representing a promising advance in the search for a more sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly protein source that could potentially reduce reliance on livestock for meat production. The study, led by Professor Jinkee Hong of the Yonsei University, in Seoul, was published in the magazine Matter and introduced the concept of “cow rice,” the first experiment to use grain particles as a platform for the growth of animal-derived muscle and fat cells.

The process involves treating rice grains with enzymes to create an environment that is favorable to cell proliferation. They are then enriched with bovine cells, allowing the formation of a hybrid product. The result maintains the original structure of the rice, but has a pink coloration, standing out as an innovation in food biotechnology.

O rice with cow genes It is an experimental idea in biotechnology whose main objective is to improve the nutritional value of rice, especially by increasing the protein content, which is higher in bovine genes. However, it is important to emphasize that this technology is still in the research phase and raises ethical, environmental and food safety debates. The practical application of this technique is not yet common and is subject to strict regulations.

Brick that imitates human lungs

A bioengineering enables the creation of metamaterials with programmable properties that can change their characteristics in response to external stimuli, such as light or heat. Metamaterials are developed with properties that are not found in nature and are created through precise microstructural design. Amy Webb discussed how these materials are breaking the normal rules of physics, allowing them to bend light or sound in the opposite direction than would normally happen.

A striking example presented by Webb was the brick that imitates human lungs. They brick has filtration properties similar to those in the lungs, allowing it to automatically filter pollutants from the air. Another example is a brick that behaves like the elastic waistband of your pants, becoming rigid or flexible as needed. During an earthquake, these bricks could become flexible, preventing collapse. These innovative applications of metamaterials show how engineering can create adaptive and intelligent structures.

Embodied AI

A Artificial Intelligence incarnate is a concept in which AI systems interact with the physical world through a physical body or form. The Embodied AI arose from the need to overcome this limitation by enabling machines to learn from direct experience in the real environment, rather than relying solely on large data sets. With sensors, advanced robotics, and continuous interaction with the physical world, these systems can develop a deeper and more dynamic understanding of reality, approaching human cognition.

Amy Webb explained that currently, AI systems have no experience in the physical world, which means they don't have the same common sense or intuition that humans develop over years.

Experiment of the Meta and ETH Zurich

To overcome this limitation, researchers are developing techniques and protocols that allow AI to collect detailed physical data. Webb cited an experiment in which researchers at Meta and ETH Zurich used robust human motion reconstruction to analyze detailed body movements and then clean the data for use in AI.

In the future, special sensors will connect AI to human brains, allowing AI to become truly embodied. Examples include brain activity data captured by fMRI and converted into images, or a paralyzed person communicating with an AI-generated avatar. These technologies will transform the way AI interacts with the physical world.

Neuromorphic computing

A Neuromorphic Computing is an approach that uses biological materials, such as brain cells, to create computers that combine biological intelligence and silicon technology. Amy Webb highlighted the work of DeepMind and Alpha Fold, which can now predict the structures and interactions of all biological molecules. This technology enables significant advances in research and development, breaking down barriers that were previously impossible to overcome.

Organoid Intelligence (OAI)

The fusion of artificial intelligence and biology is enabling the creation of programmable materials and reprogrammable life. Amy Webb explained that technologies such as Organoid Intelligence (OAI) use biological materials, usually brain cells, for information processing, allowing the creation of computers that are more powerful and energy-efficient than silicon chips.

Researchers believe that the OAI It can offer significant advances in areas such as understanding brain development, learning and memory, as well as enabling new approaches to treating neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

Companies like Cortical Labs and Final Spark are commercializing biocomputers that combine living neurons with silicon chips. These biocomputers can perform complex calculations more efficiently than traditional computers. Webb highlighted the launch of the first commercialized biocomputer, which is made from human neurons and runs the biological intelligence operating system (BIOS). These innovations enable the creation of programmable neural networks and offer new possibilities for advanced computing.

Neural interface technology

As neural interface technologies are enabling a direct connection between the human brain and external devices, revolutionizing medicine and interaction with technology. Amy Webb discussed experiments in which sensors capture brain activity data and turn it into actions. For example, A paralyzed man managed to fly a virtual drone just by imagining the movement of his fingers, thanks to a brain-machine interface with 192 implanted electrodes. See the video below:

Case Ann Johnson

We also pack any Webb mentioned the case known as Ann Johnson, who suffered a catastrophic stroke and was left paralyzed and unable to speak. Researchers implanted electrodes and collected data from her brain signals, which were converted into written and vocalized language by an AI-generated avatar.

This technology enables people with disabilities to regain the ability to communicate and interact with the world in innovative ways. These advances in neural interface technology are opening up new opportunities for controlling devices, offering new treatment possibilities and improving people’s quality of life.

Micromachines and nanotechnology

Amy Webb discussed how the micromachines and nanotechnology natural are becoming increasingly powerful, operating at the cellular level to perform precise functions within the human body. A fascinating example is the flagellar motor, a micromachine already present in our bodies that drives the organism's movement. Researchers at University of New South Wales are working on chimeric microbial engines, combining different parts of bacterial engines to create new machines just six nanometers in diameter, capable of generating electricity and moving autonomously.

Sperm bots

Webb also mentioned the “sperm bots“, introduced in 2016 by German researchers. These devices are small coils that wrap around individual sperm and respond to a magnet, directing them where they need to go.

The next generation of these sperm bots will include new tools to carry drug cargo, representing a new class of devices that can be used inside the body to treat diseases more effectively and precisely. In addition, neuron-powered wearables, developed by MIT, are injected into the body and activated by external light, allowing specific treatment of neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, without damaging healthy tissue.

Biohybrid robots

robots biohybrids combine biological and mechanical elements, creating new forms of interaction between technology and biology. Amy Webb highlighted several impressive examples of biohybrid robots, such as the Ameca robot (pictured above), made from human skin, which can scar, burn and heal itself, as well as mimic human expressions.

Developed by engineered arts, AMEC is considered one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world, with a design focused on realism and natural interaction. Its ability to display subtle microexpressions and respond in real time makes it a promising tool for research into human-machine communication. Learn more about AMEC and other robots in these two subjects showmetech: 20 humanoid robots that show the future of robotics e The 14 most amazing robots in the world.

Another innovation mentioned was the biohybrid robot developed in Cornell, which has a brain made of mushroom mycelium and responds to light stimuli, allowing it to move and react to its environment. Watch the video below:

Biohybrid robotic jellyfish

Another fascinating example is the biohybrid robotic jellyfish developed by Caltech, which combines jellyfish cells with artificial sensors. This robot could be used to collect data in hard-to-reach areas of the ocean, helping to monitor the impact of climate change. The importance of these biohybrid robots lies in the fact that they can be designed to interact with complex and dynamic environments, offering new solutions for health problems, environmental monitoring and other applications.

Who is Amy Webb?

Amy Webb is an American futurist, author, and founder of Future Today Institute. Born October 18, 1974, in East Chicago, Indiana, Webb began her career as a journalist, covering technology and economics for the The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science, economics and game theory from Indiana University Bloomington and a master's degree from Columbia University School of Journalism.

In 2006, Webb founded the Future Today Institute, a management consulting firm that focuses on identifying signals of change and emerging patterns through a unique quantitative approach. Since 2007, she has authored the Future Today Institute Annual Technology Trends Report, which addresses the future of technologies and their impact on society. Additionally, Webb is an adjunct professor at New York University Stern School of Business, where he teaches strategic forecasting.

Webb is widely recognized for her contributions to the field of strategic foresight and has been named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2019. She is also the author of several books, including “The Big Nine” and “The Genesis Machine”, which have been translated into 21 languages. Webb collaborates with writers and producers on Hollywood in films, TV shows and commercials about science, technology and the future, helping to create fictional worlds based on their predictions.

What did you think of the predictions and insights from Amy Webb? Tell us Comment!

See also:

Discover all the iPhone viruses discovered to date (and protect yourself from them)

Sources: Youtube SXSW, Future Today Institute e SXSW.