Product Development & Management

2025 Predictions for Industrial Project/Product Development: AI, Sustainability, and the Future of Connected Devices

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In this image, we portray a new 2025 predictions series, the first blog of which focuses on industrial project / product development.

2025 Predictions for Industrial Project/Product Development: AI, Sustainability, and the Future of Connected Devices

As the Industrial and Consumer Electronics (ICE) industry races toward 2025, a landscape of rapid innovation, complex challenges, and transformative potential emerges.

In part one of our annual predictions series, we asked Richard Matt, Lead Consultant at Aspen Medical Risk, and our own industry expert Steven Meadows, Principal Solutions Lead at Jama Software, to weigh in on the industrial product, systems, and software trends they are anticipating in the coming year and beyond.

From the groundbreaking impact of AI and augmented reality to the evolving role of software development in enabling smarter, more secure devices, these predictions highlight both opportunities and hurdles. The conversation also touched on critical concerns, including bias in AI, job displacement, and the urgent need for sustainable product design.

Read on as experts explore what’s next for the industrial industry, addressing pivotal questions about technological evolution, environmental responsibility, and the innovations that will drive the next wave of progress.

We like to stay on top of trends in other industries as well. Stay tuned for future topics, including Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Medical Device & Life Sciences, Energy, AECO, and Semiconductor.

Question 1 – With the rapid pace of technological evolution, which emerging technologies (such as AI, IoT, or 5G) do you believe will most significantly impact the consumer and industrial electronics landscape by 2025, and why?

Richard Matt: Leveraging the connectivity between products in ways that increase value.

Steven Meadows: Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be a game-changer for both the industrial and consumer electronics sectors. It will enhance user experiences through smarter product interactions, enable personalized recommendations, and deliver more accurate, predictive outcomes in how products are used and optimized.

Augmented reality (AR) is another transformative technology that is significantly enhancing both personal experiences and business operations. In the consumer electronics space, AR has elevated gaming and entertainment to new heights. Meanwhile, in the industrial sector, AR has become a key tool for remote assistance, real-time data visualization, and fostering better collaboration across teams.

Quantum computing is still in its early stages, but its potential to revolutionize computing power and unlock new applications is already becoming clear. Areas such as cryptography and optimization stand to benefit greatly, and as AI continues to demand ever-greater computational resources, quantum computing will play a crucial role in supporting the complex calculations and neural networks that drive advanced AI systems.

Question 2 – As a follow-up question: Do you have any concerns or anticipate any negative impacts as it pertains to AI & ML?

Matt: My only concern is lazy implementation that doesn’t look left and right for novel synergies and intuitive interfaces.

Meadows: While I believe that the benefits of AI will ultimately outweigh its negative impacts, there are a few key areas that warrant concern:

Bias is a well-recognized issue that requires continued attention and regulation. If AI systems are trained on biased data—whether related to gender, race, or other factors—there is a risk that these biases will be perpetuated in decision-making processes. Addressing discrimination and ensuring fairness in AI outcomes should be a top priority.

Job displacement is another major concern, particularly for workers in industries like manufacturing, customer service, and transportation. These sectors may be among the most affected by automation, and it’s crucial to consider how to support workers through retraining and job transition initiatives.

RELATED: Jama Connect® for Robotics Datasheet

Question 3 – As sustainability becomes a focal point, how do you see product design and manufacturing processes in electronics evolving to meet environmental goals? What specific innovations or practices could make the biggest difference?

Matt: When product retirement becomes an integral part of product development, sustainability will be addressed naturally and effectively.

Question 4 – The push towards smart and interconnected devices is stronger than ever. How do you anticipate software development will need to adapt to support increasingly sophisticated, integrated, and secure consumer and industrial electronics?

Matt: Software development needs to mature as an integral part of product development instead of a technical specialty that keeps to itself.

Meadows: As the demand for smart, connected devices keeps growing, software development will have to keep up by making sure everything works smoothly together, processes data in real-time, and stays secure. Developers need to focus on building systems that can easily connect with different devices and platforms, using AI and machine learning (if applicable) to make devices smarter and more predictive. Edge computing will become more common, so devices can handle data quickly on-site, cutting down on delays. Security will be key, with stronger protections like encryption and regular updates to fend off cyber threats. As devices get more complex and data-heavy, software will also need to be scalable and energy-efficient, reducing its environmental impact. Ultimately, software will have to help devices work together, provide secure and personalized experiences, and keep everything running sustainably.

Question 5 – Supply chain resilience and component shortages remain major concerns. How do you think electronics companies can leverage technology and software solutions to manage these challenges and improve supply chain agility?

Matt: Electronics companies can create a supply chain database with predictive algorithms that direct when to engage alternative suppliers.

RELATED: The Top Challenges in Industrial Manufacturing and Consumer Electronic Development

Question 6 – Data privacy and cybersecurity risks continue to grow with the rise of connected devices. What proactive steps do you recommend electronics firms take to safeguard consumer data and ensure robust cybersecurity standards in product development?

Matt: There are not that many attack vectors, so give cybersecurity a sliver of attention with qualified personnel. That is all you need to stop 80% of cyberattacks.

Meadows: To protect consumer data and keep devices secure, electronics companies should take a proactive, “security-first” approach right from the start of product development. This means using end-to-end encryption to keep data safe, adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user logins, and making sure devices have secure boot processes to stop unauthorized changes. Regular security checks and penetration tests should be part of the process to spot weaknesses before products are released.

Question 7 – Are there any additional insights you have regarding predictions, events, or trends you anticipate happening in 2025 and beyond?

Matt: Only ‘motherhood and apple pie’ suggestions:

Find something that gives a customer base a significant need and build a minimum-viable product around fulfilling that need.

Be laser-focused on your customer’s abilities and needs.

Jama Software
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