Unmissable Breakthrough Technologies You Need to Know About Now

As we step into 2025, the technological landscape is more exciting and transformative than ever. The latest list of Breakthrough Technologies from MIT Technology Review highlights innovations that are not just intriguing but also poised to reshape our world in significant ways. Here’s a deep dive into some of the most impactful technologies you need to know about this year.

The Selection Process: How These Technologies Were Chosen

Before we delve into the specifics of each technology, it’s interesting to understand how these breakthroughs were selected. According to Amy Nordrum, an executive editor at MIT Technology Review, the process involves several months of research and debate among the editorial team.

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“It’s a process that takes us several months every year. Everybody on staff pitches ideas, and we’re looking for technologies that are having what we call a breakthrough moment,” Nordrum explained in an interview with Science Friday. “We define it in different ways, and that’s part of the fun and the challenge of trying to put this list together.”[2]

The team looks for technologies that have passed important milestones, whether it’s a new medical treatment clearing regulatory hurdles or a climate technology proving its efficacy in a demonstration plant. This rigorous selection process ensures that the technologies listed are not just promising but also on the cusp of making a significant impact.

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Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Unveiling the Secrets of the Sky

One of the most exciting breakthroughs this year is the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a powerful new telescope set to come online in a remote region of Chile. This telescope is equipped with the largest digital camera ever made for astronomy and will begin a decade-long survey of the southern sky.

“Why it matters: The Rubin Observatory will help astronomers study dark matter, explore the Milky Way, and untangle other cosmic unknowns,” notes MIT Technology Review. This project is a prime example of how emerging technologies in astronomy can expand our understanding of the universe and potentially lead to groundbreaking discoveries[3].

Generative AI Search: Revolutionizing How We Find Information

Generative AI search is another technology that promises to transform the way we interact with information. Unlike traditional search engines that return a list of links, generative AI search summarizes information from multiple online sources to provide a unique answer.

“When you type in a query, an AI model summarizes information from many online sources to return a unique answer. On your device, it can comb through documents, photos, and videos, recognizing objects and people to help you find them faster,” explains MIT Technology Review. This technology, already implemented by Google with its Gemini language model, could signal the end of traditional search engines and the rise of personal AI assistants[3].

Small Language Models: The Future of AI

While large language models have been the focus in recent years, 2025 marks a shift towards smaller, more efficient language models. These models, though less powerful than their large counterparts, are cheaper and less power-hungry, making them more accessible and better for the climate.

“Cheaper and less power-hungry small language models can now stand with the heavyweights across a range of specific tasks,” notes MIT Technology Review. This development is significant because it makes AI more sustainable and opens up new possibilities for consumer technology and business applications[3].

Robotaxis: The Future of Transportation

Robotaxis have been in beta testing for years, but 2025 sees them becoming available to the public in over a dozen cities worldwide. This technology is set to revolutionize transportation, offering a safer, more efficient, and potentially more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional taxis.

“Now, the biggest players are ramping up for intense competition as they expand into new cities under regulators’ watchful eyes,” says MIT Technology Review. As robotaxis become more widespread, they could significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, contributing to a reduction in emissions and traffic congestion[3].

Cleaner Jet Fuel: A Step Towards Sustainable Aviation

Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to reduce emissions in, but new breakthroughs in cleaner jet fuel offer a promising solution. These fuels, made from used cooking oil, industrial waste, or even gases in the air, can significantly cut down emissions from air travel.

“New fuels made from waste products like used cooking oil can cut down emissions from air travel. In 2024, they made up about 0.5% of the fuel supply. But new policies could help these fuels break into new prominence,” notes MIT Technology Review. As these fuels become more commercially available, they could play a crucial role in making aviation more sustainable[3].

Green Steel: Transforming the Steel Industry

Steel production is one of the largest industrial sources of carbon dioxide emissions, but new technologies are changing this landscape. The first industrial green-steel plant, being built by Stegra in Sweden, uses hydrogen produced from renewable power to make steel.

“Steel is a crucial material for buildings and vehicles, and making it accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. New manufacturing methods could be a huge part of cleaning up heavy industry,” explains MIT Technology Review. This plant, set to begin operations in 2026, could pave the way for a more sustainable steel industry[4].

Fast-Learning Robots: The Rise of General-Purpose Robots

Thanks to the generative AI boom, robots are now learning new tasks faster than ever before. These robots are no longer limited to specific tasks but are becoming general-purpose, capable of adapting to new environments and tasks quickly.

“Today’s automatons are not one-trick ponies—we’re getting closer to general-purpose robots that could be dropped into new environments and tackle a variety of tasks on our behalf, almost instantly,” notes MIT Technology Review. This advancement has significant implications for various industries, from manufacturing to healthcare[3].

Long-Acting HIV Prevention Meds: A New Era in HIV Treatment

A new HIV prevention medication, Lenacapavir, has shown remarkable efficacy in trials, protecting 100% of treated women and girls from acquiring HIV infections. This medication, which only needs to be injected once every six months, could be a game-changer in the fight against AIDS.

“A trial of a new HIV prevention medicine found that 100% of treated women and girls were protected from acquiring HIV infections. And it only needs to be injected once every six months,” explains MIT Technology Review. Ensuring access to this medication for those who need it could be a crucial step towards ending the AIDS epidemic[3].

Cattle Burping Remedies: Reducing Methane Emissions in Agriculture

Cow burps are a significant source of agricultural emissions, but new remedies are being developed to reduce these emissions. A feed additive called Bovaer from DSM-Firmenich can cut methane emissions by 30% in dairy cattle and even more in beef cattle.

“There’s already a commercially available option right now: a feed additive called Bovaer from DSM-Firmenich that the company says can cut methane emissions by 30% in dairy cattle, and more in beef cattle,” notes MIT Technology Review. As these products become more widely available, they could play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture[4].

Practical Insights and Actionable Advice

Here are some practical insights and actionable advice related to these breakthrough technologies:

Adopting AI in Your Business: With the rise of small language models, businesses can now integrate AI solutions that are more affordable and sustainable. Consider how AI can automate tasks, improve customer service, or enhance your product offerings.
Investing in Sustainable Technologies: As technologies like green steel and cleaner jet fuel become more commercially available, consider investing in these sustainable solutions for your business or personal life.
Staying Updated: Keep an eye on the latest developments in these technologies through publications like MIT Technology Review. Staying informed can help you make better decisions and stay ahead in your industry.
Supporting Innovation: Encourage and support companies and researchers working on these breakthrough technologies. Your support can help accelerate the adoption and development of these innovations.

Detailed List of Breakthrough Technologies

Here is a detailed list of the 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2025:

Vera C. Rubin Observatory
A powerful new telescope to survey the southern sky.
Equipped with the largest digital camera ever made for astronomy.
Will help study dark matter, explore the Milky Way, and more[3].
Generative AI Search
Summarizes information from multiple online sources.
Can comb through documents, photos, and videos.
Could replace traditional search engines with personal AI assistants[3].
Small Language Models
Cheaper and less power-hungry than large language models.
Can perform a range of specific tasks efficiently.
More sustainable and accessible for consumer technology and business applications[3].
Robotaxis
Available to the public in over a dozen cities worldwide.
Offers a safer, more efficient, and potentially more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional taxis.
Big players are expanding into new cities under regulatory scrutiny[3].
Cleaner Jet Fuel
Made from waste products like used cooking oil.
Can cut down emissions from air travel.
New policies could help these fuels gain prominence[3].
Green Steel
Uses hydrogen produced from renewable power to make steel.
The first industrial green-steel plant is being built by Stegra in Sweden.
Could significantly reduce carbon emissions from the steel industry[4].
Fast-Learning Robots
Capable of learning new tasks faster than ever before.
Becoming general-purpose robots that can adapt to new environments and tasks quickly.
Significant implications for various industries[3].
Long-Acting HIV Prevention Meds
Lenacapavir protects 100% of treated women and girls from acquiring HIV infections.
Only needs to be injected once every six months.
Could be a game-changer in the fight against AIDS[3].
Cattle Burping Remedies
Feed additives like Bovaer can cut methane emissions by 30% in dairy cattle and more in beef cattle.
Commercially available and being developed by several companies.
Could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture[4].
Stem-Cell Therapies
Experimental transplants of lab-made cells are helping treat conditions like epilepsy and type 1 diabetes.
Significant progress in a field that has been promising for decades.
Could lead to new treatments for various diseases[3].

Table Comparing Key Breakthrough Technologies

Technology	Description	Impact
Vera C. Rubin Observatory	Powerful new telescope surveying the southern sky	Advances in astronomy, study of dark matter and the Milky Way
Generative AI Search	Summarizes information from multiple online sources	Revolutionizes search, personal AI assistants
Small Language Models	Cheaper, less power-hungry AI models	Sustainable AI solutions for consumer and business applications
Robotaxis	Autonomous taxis available to the public	Safer, more efficient transportation
Cleaner Jet Fuel	Fuels made from waste products reducing aviation emissions	Sustainable aviation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Green Steel	Steel production using hydrogen from renewable power	Significant reduction in carbon emissions from the steel industry
Fast-Learning Robots	Robots learning new tasks quickly, general-purpose capabilities	Impacts various industries, from manufacturing to healthcare
Long-Acting HIV Prevention	Lenacapavir protecting against HIV infections	Game-changer in the fight against AIDS
Cattle Burping Remedies	Feed additives reducing methane emissions from cattle	Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
Stem-Cell Therapies	Lab-made cells treating conditions like epilepsy and type 1 diabetes	New treatments for various diseases

Quotes from Experts

“What stands out to me this year is that progress definitely isn’t linear. Several of these technologies have had major setbacks or went through long periods where it wasn’t at all clear that they would pan out. It’s neat to see them start to have a real impact,” – Amy Nordrum, Executive Editor at MIT Technology Review[1].
“Steel is a crucial material for buildings and vehicles, and making it accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. New manufacturing methods could be a huge part of cleaning up heavy industry,” – MIT Technology Review[4].

The breakthrough technologies of 2025 are not just intriguing; they are poised to transform various aspects of our lives and the world around us. From the Vera C. Rubin Observatory unveiling the secrets of the sky to green steel revolutionizing the steel industry, these innovations are set to make a lasting impact.

As Amy Nordrum aptly puts it, “We can’t see the future, but we expect these technologies to affect our world in a big way, for decades to come.”[1] Staying informed and supportive of these emerging technologies can help us navigate the future with greater clarity and optimism.

In the words of Bernard Marr, a well-known expert in AI and technology, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” The breakthrough technologies of 2025 are indeed inventing a better, more sustainable future for us all.