2024 was a year where AI was everywhere. ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion etc etc. AI broke out of the niche and into the mainstream. It was a year where we even started to see AI hardware launch like Rabbit and the Humane pin... even if they were poorly received.
Looking ahead to 2025 what can we expect to see? Using our experience of working with startups, we're sticking our neck out to make some educated guesses on what we think will be the key trends in 2025 for startups.
AI in Healthcare: The Tipping Point
As we said AI is everywhere but a place that we think will see a lot of growth is healthcare.
The healthcare sector is experiencing a pivotal moment in its relationship with artificial intelligence. With the NHS facing unprecedented pressure and an rapidly ageing population in many countries, AI-driven solutions are going to become essential rather than optional.
Looking ahead we expect to see a revolution in self-care, where AI-powered health monitoring and preventive care tools have the potential to significantly reduce the burden on traditional healthcare services. Rather than struggle for a GP appointment or trudging out to a pharmacy to get an opinion, people will be able to leverage AI-backed products and services to get early warnings, preventative measures and potentially even diagnosis and treatment plans. The power for this will be in our hands so we'll be able to access this type of intervention without leaving their home.
The social care crisis presents another crucial opportunity where startups will be able to leverage AI to help coordinate care for the elderly, creating seamless connections between families, carers, and healthcare providers.
Electric Vehicles and the Adaptive Grid
Electric vehicles aren't new, in fact they're becoming common place on our roads. Yet we're still at the beginning of a profound transformation in mobility and our energy infrastructure. At Add Jam, our experience in delivering EV and mobility projects over the last few years has given us unique insights into this evolving landscape. The focus has shifted beyond simply charging vehicles – it's now about creating an intelligent, responsive infrastructure that can support mass adoption.
The real innovation lies in smart grid integration and dynamic load management. As EV adoption accelerates, the ability to balance charging demands with grid capacity becomes crucial. This creates opportunities for startups to develop sophisticated management systems that can handle peak demand while ensuring a seamless experience for EV owners.
There's so much scope for innovation in this space. We expect to see more startups focusing on the charging infrastructure and the management of the grid. Providing real solutions to the challenges of energy storage, demand management and decarbonising transport and energy.
Privacy-first utilities
As traditional social networks grapple with the "dead internet" phenomenon (see Meta's controversial decision to allow AI-generated accounts) and mounting data privacy concerns I believe we're going to be seeing a significant shift towards privacy-focused platforms.
I believe the future belongs to solutions that can leverage AI capabilities while keeping data local and private. Apple Intelligence is going to be the most tangible and accessible example of this but I'm particularly excited about the potential for small, focused applications that deliver specific value while respecting user privacy. This trend represents a fundamental shift in how we think about digital services, moving away from data harvesting towards genuine user empowerment.
New interaction paradigms
Have you tried Advanced Voice Mode on ChatGPT yet? If not, go try it right now.
We've had voice interfaces for a while now but they've been limited to a few specific use cases and felt like the old text adventure games from the 80s.
With Advance Voice Mode OpenAI has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. The way we interact with technology is evolving beyond traditional interfaces, and this evolution is creating exciting opportunities for innovation. Advanced voice interfaces are becoming more natural and context-aware, while AI vision applications are solving real-world problems in novel ways. Even XR technologies are finding their place. I don't think there's going to be a silver bullet that will make us all rush out to by a £3000+ Apple Vision Pro but I do think we'll see more and more of these types of experiences that can deliver real value in specific use cases.
Taking this all a step further, the concept of ambient computing is particularly intriguing – technology that seamlessly integrates into our everyday environments without demanding our constant attention. This shift represents a more mature approach to human-computer interaction, one that prioritises effectiveness over novelty.
2025 is hopefully going to be the year where we have less screen time.
What role will Add Jam play?
As these trends unfold, many startups need technical expertise to capitalise on these opportunities. This is where Add Jam comes in. Through our fractional CTO services, we provide strategic technical leadership without the full-time overhead. Our development expertise in React Native, Ruby on Rails, and TypeScript positions us perfectly to help you navigate these emerging opportunities.
Our approach focuses on creating revenue-generating solutions rather than just technical implementations. We understand that success in 2025's startup landscape requires both technical excellence and business acumen.
Get Started
Ready to turn these trends into opportunities? Contact us to discuss how we can support your startup journey with our technical expertise and proven track record of delivering successful digital products.
Remember, the most successful startups of 2025 will be those that can effectively harness these trends while delivering real value to users. Let's build something amazing together.
Why the pie as the header image? In Scotland it's tradition to see in the New Year with Steak Pie for New Years Day dinner 🏴 🥃.
