Top 10 Marketing Trends to Watch Out for in 2025
The purpose of making predictions is not to be right, but to have a deep understanding of reality that allows for educated guesses and learning along the way.
I find that sharing my predictions sparks insightful discussions that contribute to my knowledge. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
For reference, here are my previous predictions: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023
2024 Predictions Review
2024 turned out to be a significant year of breakthroughs:
- AI Advancements: from search results to AI-generated responses.
- Starlink: revolutionizing broadband with satellite internet.
- SpaceX: expanding from Earth to space missions.
- o1 and Gemini 2.0 Flash: progressing from LLMs to reasoning capabilities.
- Waymo: transitioning from ride-hailing to self-driving technology.
- Meta Ray Bans: evolving from smartwatches to smart glasses.
- YouTube: shifting focus from text to video content.
I made eight predictions for the year:
A Wave Of AI Improvements
I anticipated significant AI feature enhancements, which were indeed observed in various platforms like Tripadvisor, Booking, Expedia, and more. The integration of AI in products is proving to be monetarily beneficial and user-centric.
Furthermore, in the publishing industry, collaborations with LLM developers have offered new lifelines to struggling companies amidst evolving digital landscapes.
Companies in 2024 shifted their focus towards organic growth channels like SEO, content marketing, and social media, as reflected in the marketing budget trends.
👎🏻 Google/Microsoft Build Powerful AI Agents Based On Your Emails
The integration of user data with AI agents by tech giants like Google and Microsoft faced challenges in 2024, but hopes are high for advancements in 2025.
👎🏻 Google Continues To Prioritize Human Content And Launches An Update To The Hidden Gems Algorithm
Google’s emphasis on human-generated content persisted in search results, but improvements expected in forum content prioritization were not fully realized.
👎🏻 Google Doesn’t Launch SGE Unless Someone Else Launches A Powerful AI Search Engine
Google’s launch of AI Overviews in 2024 contradicted predictions, indicating potential shifts in their advertising-focused strategies.
👎🏻 More Creators Will Make A (Good) Living From Creating Content
The creator economy displayed disparities in revenue distribution, highlighting challenges faced by creators in generating sustainable income.
2025 Predictions
Looking ahead to 2025, here are some bold predictions:
1. Agentic LLM Models Reach +100 Million Users
The evolution of inference models with enhanced reasoning capabilities is anticipated to impact over 100 million users, reflecting the ongoing advancements in AI technology.
The advancement of reasoning abilities will pave the way for AI agents and LLM scripts to carry out tasks on our behalf, such as making purchases or accessing information. These agents are still in their early stages, but I anticipate a breakthrough in 2025 that will lead to widespread adoption among over 100 million users.
The ability to monetize these agents is significant, as they offer tangible time-saving benefits to users. The leading AI technologies are already capable of creating prototypes for these agents, showcasing their potential value in the market.
As AI continues to disrupt industries, we can expect to see more companies fall victim to its capabilities. This disruption will force slow-moving companies to adapt or risk being left behind, particularly in industries like translation, tutoring, and call centers. However, AI also has the potential to create new industries and revive forgotten players in the market.
In the marketing realm, AI automation will become the standard for teams, as AI and no-code tools allow for the automation of workflows. This shift towards automation will impact the size and structure of marketing teams, leading to smaller teams and a greater reliance on freelancers and consultants with automation skills.
Google’s AI overviews will evolve to provide a better user experience, potentially incorporating personalization, video answers, and multi-modal capabilities. This evolution will require SEOs to adapt and track changes in Google’s search landscape more closely.
Reddit is poised to become a more integral part of the marketing mix, offering valuable advertising opportunities and audience insights for marketers. The platform’s growth and expansion, coupled with AI-driven advancements, will make it a key player in the advertising space.
With the rise of LLMs, we may see more websites adopting cloaking techniques to optimize for bot crawlers. This shift could lead to increased bot activity on the web, potentially changing the landscape of online interactions.
The current Google Shopping tab may become the default search experience for shopping-related queries, driven by AI-personalized shopping experiences. Marketers will need to adjust their optimization strategies to account for personalized results and track performance effectively.
AI-generated Content Takes Over: A New Era of Audio and Video Production
What:
- The use of AI-generated b-roll and ads will become more prevalent in Youtube channels and podcasts.
Why:
- Advancements in technology, such as Elevenlabs’ new voice generator and OpenAI’s upcoming Sora release, are making multi-modal AI output more accessible.
- NotebookLM’s success in podcasting showcases the readiness of AI-generated content for mainstream adoption.
Implications:
- Production costs for video and audio formats will decrease significantly.
- There is a potential for increased deception and clickbait as AI-generated content becomes more widespread.
Google And Apple: Antitrust Concerns Lead to a Divorce
What:
- Google is expected to end exclusivity agreements with Apple, Samsung, and other suppliers in response to the DoJ antitrust lawsuit.
- A settlement that breaks exclusive distribution agreements is the likely outcome, despite the DoJ’s more extensive demands.
Why:
- Google has indicated a willingness to loosen its agreements to address antitrust concerns.
- The ruling judge’s stance on exclusive distribution agreements has put pressure on Google to make changes.
Implications:
- Google’s dominance in search may remain unaffected, but its position in the AI market could be impacted by the loss of exclusive agreements.
- Without exclusivity, Google may face increased competition in securing market share.
Apple And OpenAI: The Race for Smart Glasses
What:
- Apple or OpenAI is expected to enter the smart glasses market with a new device to rival Meta.
- OpenAI’s collaboration with designer Jony Ive and the growing market for smart glasses make them strong contenders.
Why:
- Meta’s success with smart glasses and the expanding market present a lucrative opportunity for Apple or OpenAI.
- The potential for a billion-dollar market by 2030 makes smart glasses a desirable product for tech companies.
Implications:
- A successful hardware device could provide a significant business opportunity for Apple or OpenAI.
- The adoption of smart glasses may lead to changes in consumer behavior and new content formats for marketers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How will AI-generated content impact traditional media production?
AI-generated content is expected to reduce production costs and increase efficiency in traditional media formats.
2. What challenges may arise from the use of AI-generated b-roll and ads?
Potential challenges include issues of authenticity, deception, and the ethical implications of using AI to create content.
3. What are the implications of Google and Apple ending exclusivity agreements?
The end of exclusivity agreements could lead to increased competition and a shift in market dynamics for both companies.
4. How will the introduction of smart glasses by Apple or OpenAI impact the market?
The entry of new players into the smart glasses market could result in innovation, competition, and changes in consumer behavior.
5. What are the potential benefits of AI in audio and video production?
AI technology can streamline production processes, enhance creativity, and improve the quality of content in audio and video formats.
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