With a new year almost upon us, tech brands are weighing in on what’s in store for 2025. From responsible AI use to more mindful collection and use of data, here are some technology trends to expect next year.
AI use will continue to rise, but so too will concerns about responsible use
Next year, concerns about responsible use of AI will accompany its continued rapid adoption, according to tech consulting firm Synechron.
“Responsible adoption, trust-building, and proactive investment in secure, sustainable, and scalable technologies will be essential for organisations to thrive in 2025 and beyond,” said Chief Technology Officer David Sewell.
Most Australian businesses haven’t yet adopted responsible AI practices, according to a report by Fifth Quadrant. And customers are aware that businesses aren’t doing their due diligence: recent research has found that they don’t trust enterprises to use AI properly.
Additionally, the Government is currently working on a set of Mandatory Guardrails for responsible AI usage, though it’s currently unknown if these will apply to small businesses.
Small businesses will take data privacy more seriously
The Government has also recently phased out the small-business exemption from the Privacy Act, which previously applied to businesses with a turnover of less than $3 million. This means that SMEs must report any data breaches that result in serious harm to individuals, or else suffer financial penalties.
“The new amendments introduce greater powers to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to crack down on breaches and the assessment timeframe is tightening from the 30-day period to just 72 hours,” explained Greg Lever, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Iron Mountain APAC. “This means SMEs will need to establish clear protocols for identifying and responding to breaches promptly if they want to avoid hefty fines and legal repercussions.”
IT service provider Logicalis Australia says it expects to see more businesses retaining their data thoughtfully and sparingly, rather than hoarding all generated information.
“Regulatory bodies are increasingly demanding that businesses minimise data collection and storage,” explained Logicalis CEO Anthony Woodward. “Poor data governance can lead to compliance failures, security vulnerabilities, and loss of consumer trust.”
Cybersecurity will continue to be a concern for SMEs
We know that cybersecurity is an issue for SMEs. Last financial year saw a 24 per cent increase in cyber crimes in Australia, according to the Australian Signals Directorate. Despite this, 22 per cent of small businesses and 15 per cent of medium businesses plan to reduce spending on cybersecurity management, according to the latest SME Cyber Security Management report by Business NSW.
Small businesses can’t afford cybersecurity, making this a huge concern for the community. To combat the issue, the Government has recently launched a Small Business Cyber Resilience Service, which promises tailored advice to SMEs to help keep them safe from cyber crime.
