In 2015, the World Economic Forum (WEF) identified ten technologies it believed had the potential to transform industries, economies, and societies. Each year, the WEF develops its “Top 10 Emerging Technologies” list through a multiphase process that draws on the insights of its Global Future Councils Network, narrowing from a longlist of promising fields to ten technologies judged to have the greatest transformative potential.

Ten years later, in 2025, the passage of time allows us to assess which of these technologies have lived up to expectations, which are still in development, and which have underperformed relative to their early promise. Moving a technology from concept to widespread adoption requires not only scientific advances, but also financial investment, regulatory frameworks, and cultural acceptance. The trajectory of these ten technologies illustrates both the speed and unevenness of technological change.

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The 2015 Technologies and Their 2025 Status

Fuel Cell Vehicles
In 2025, fuel cell vehicles remain a niche market. Stellantis has exited development due to cost and infrastructure barriers, while Toyota continues to refine its hydrogen fuel cell systems, targeting commercial fleets with a third-generation design.

Next-Generation Robotics
Robotics has advanced rapidly. By 2023, there were approximately 4.3 million industrial robots in use globally. Humanoid robotics has moved from research to pilot projects, with Boston Dynamics’ all-electric Atlas set to operate in a Hyundai facility and Agility Robotics’ Digit being tested in warehouse operations by Amazon and GXO.

Recyclable Thermoset Plastics
Despite ongoing research, recyclable thermoset plastics remain far from mainstream commercialization. Advances are incremental, and widespread market adoption is yet to occur.

Precise Genetic Engineering Techniques
Techniques such as CRISPR have matured and are now widely deployed in biotechnology. While less visible in public discourse than during the peak of initial excitement, gene-editing applications are expanding in both medical and agricultural contexts.

Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
3D printing has expanded steadily, with strong uptake in prototyping, specialized manufacturing, and custom design. While it has not displaced traditional mass production, it has become a valuable tool in industrial processes.

Emergent Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has far exceeded 2015 expectations. Generative AI, embodied intelligence, and AI-driven automation are now integrated across industries, from autonomous systems to biotechnology. AI is arguably the most transformative technology of the decade.

Distributed Manufacturing
Adoption has been gradual. While the vision of fully decentralized production has not been realized, applications such as 3D-printed medical implants and prosthetics point to its potential.

“Sense and Avoid” Drones
Autonomous drone capabilities have advanced significantly, enabling drones to detect and avoid hazards. Delivery and logistics applications are emerging, though full-scale integration into civilian airspace continues to be constrained by regulatory challenges.

Neuromorphic Technology
Still largely confined to research, neuromorphic computing has not yet broken into widespread commercial deployment, though progress continues in academic and experimental settings.

Digital Genome
The digital genome has advanced rapidly, aided by AI-enhanced diagnostics and the growth of engineered therapeutics. It is becoming a central element of biotechnology and personalized medicine.

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Findings

The retrospective assessment of the 2015 WEF list reveals a wide range of outcomes:

• Spectacular advancement: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Digital Genomics have reshaped their sectors and exceeded expectations.
• Steady but incremental progress: Additive Manufacturing, Genetic Engineering, and Drone Autonomy continue to advance but remain constrained in scale or regulation.
• Lagging or still in research: Fuel Cells, Thermoset Plastics, Distributed Manufacturing, and Neuromorphic Computing remain limited in impact relative to their early promise.

Overall, the review underscores both the resilience and unpredictability of technological progress. Innovation rarely follows a straight line; some breakthroughs accelerate rapidly while others require decades of sustained research and investment. The technologies highlighted in 2015 demonstrate the ability of the global socio-economy to drive scientific discovery forward, even if not always on the anticipated timetable.