As we prepare to issue our 2026 trends and predictions, we’re taking the opportunity to review our second set of 2025 predictions to see how we did. As we’ve said before, it’s important to understand the media environment and the trends reporters are covering—and it’s also important to evaluate your accuracy because you can learn from it.
On Jan. 7, 2025, we issued “Additional Trends for 2025: EVs, Real Estate, Wearable Tech, Movie Theaters & Streaming Services” (Jan. 7, 2025), so here’s our evaluation of how we did.
- EVs and self-driving technology will continue to make inroads while still facing significant issues.
We correctly said that self-driving taxis would expand into additional markets, but we were wrong that the media would focus on data collection, especially since many EVs are manufactured in China. We noted that the U.S. has an infrastructure issue, namely not enough charging stations, that will be an obstacle for people considering whether to purchase an EV. That angle did not get much media attention this year, and we don’t know if consumer demand for EVs declined for that or other reasons. There has been some media coverage of supply-chain and raw-material shortages but those haven’t been major stories.
Grade: C. The issues we identified are real and significant but did not generate media or regulatory attention. For now, we’re scaling back our expectations for EVs.
- The real estate sector will face problems and receive significant coverage.
We identified out-of-reach home prices and wondered “what’s next?” for downtown business districts and commercial real estate due to post-pandemic changes like partial remote work schedules. The housing shortage is a major generational issue and is part of the ongoing concern about a lack of affordability, and that’s an issue that’s going to continue to affect Gen Z and younger generations. We have seen coverage of the redevelopment of commercial buildings, and that will continue even as more companies are bringing employees back to the office four days a week.
Grade: B. Real estate, and the problems facing that sector, are often overlooked. For example, McDonald’s CFO once told CEO Ray Kroc that its core business isn’t burgers—it’s the real estate it owns. Our point is that organizations should be aware of real estate issues even if they’re a tech company that has nothing to do with real estate—because they may still be affected indirectly. Downtowns that appear empty may cause a spiral as restaurants and other support businesses shut down, which in turn makes it harder to hire employees who may find it less appealing to work where there’s no place to easily get lunch.
- Wearable Technology won’t go mainstream this year.
We said wearable tech—other than fitness trackers, for example—won’t make significant inroads in 2025, and we were right about that. We said that could change in 2026 but right now, we think it’s more likely to be 2027. One reason—that we did not mention—could be regulatory and privacy issues around the collection of health data from fitness trackers.
Grade: B. We remain confident in wearable technology, especially for convenience-enhancing applications, given that many systems have become overly complex. Take watching TV. Each TV brand has a different way to access streaming apps, and we believe—despite limited media attention to date—that this is a source of consumer frustration. For that reason, we think companies need to continue to find ways to enhance convenience.
- The film industry still hasn’t fully recovered and may not.
Despite significant box office hits like Minecraft, Lilo & Stitch, and Superman, you know what validates our prediction that the film industry hasn’t fully recovered from the pandemic? Netflix’s recently announced $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Studio. Yes, that’s a lot of money but it’s clear that Netflix sees the opportunity in terms of being able to offer subscribers much more in-demand content.
Grade: A. There’s still interest in movies, but the ways we consume media have changed, as we can watch movies on our devices while folding laundry. One reason to pay attention is that the cultural impact of movies may be declining—some of us didn’t even realize there was a Minecraft movie or that it and Lilo & Stitch were the top two movies this year, bringing in $423 million.
- Streaming sector is crowded and confusing and may see a decrease in subscribers.
Too many streaming apps and higher subscription prices remain significant issues. We did expect consolidation, and the potential Netflix-Warner Bros. deal may provide that, as HBO—which has changed its name several times in several years—will change yet again, if the acquisition goes through. Or if Paramount succeeds in snatching Warner Bros. away. We expect to see more consolidation next year, once it’s clear where Warner Bros. lands.
Grade: B+. Consolidation may reduce the overwhelming number of streaming apps but subscription fees are likely to increase. If the economy hits a bumpy road, it will be interesting to see if consumers decide to cut back on the number of streaming subscriptions or cut back elsewhere.
Ultimately, getting ahead of the trend is helpful because it provides organizations with the opportunity to remain relevant and to be strategic.
Stay tuned for our predictions for 2026.
