It’s been only a few days of 2025, yet many try to predict what future holds for all of us this year. Below you’ll find both – the compilation of predictions based on the article by Tom Standage and functional language to talk about future predictions. Read the complilation and find out what English Future Tenses and phrases to use while talking about future predictions.

Tom Standage’s ten trends to watch in 2025

„IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE that 2025 has been designated the year of quantum science and technology by the United Nations .Because like Schrödinger’s cat, which (in a quantum thought-experiment) was both alive and dead at the same time inside a closed box, 2025 has hovered in a superposition of two very different states, defined by the outcome of America’s election.”

1. America’s choice.

• The repercussions of Mr. Trump’s victory will certainly shape America’s foreign and domestic policies in the coming years.
• By 2025, America’s alliances will likely have been strained by the “America First” agenda.
• Heightened tensions with adversaries are bound to emerge, and nuclear proliferation may become a pressing concern in certain regions.
• Geopolitical realignments must happen as nations adapt to America’s more isolationist policies.

2. Voters expect change.

• New leaders will face enormous pressure to fulfill their promises in 2025.
• By the end of the year, some administrations will have already delivered noticeable reforms, while others will still be grappling with voter expectations.
• If leaders fail to meet these expectations, unrest is likely to break out in vulnerable regions.
• Humbled incumbents may opt for more collaborative governance, though widespread dissatisfaction can’t be ruled out.

3. Broader disorder.

• Mr. Trump may push Ukraine toward a settlement with Russia, which could lead to uneasy compromises.
• America will be taking a more transactional stance in its foreign relations, which is bound to embolden troublemakers like China, Iran, and North Korea.
• By 2025, America will likely have left key allies questioning its willingness to intervene in conflicts over Taiwan or the South China Sea.
• Escalations in regions like Sudan must be expected, given the power vacuums and instability there.

4. Tariffying prospects.

• The trade war between America and China will escalate, with tariffs and protectionist policies likely to disrupt global markets.
• By the end of the year, Chinese companies will have expanded their global reach, circumventing trade barriers through strategic investments.
• Decoupling between the two economic giants can’t fully happen, as interdependence in certain sectors will continue to persist.

5. Clean-tech boom.

• The adoption of solar panels and clean technologies will surpass all expectations in 2025.
• By the end of the year, it will likely become clear whether global emissions have peaked.
• China’s clean-tech exports must drive a significant portion of the global energy transition.
• Governments worldwide will be investing heavily in renewable infrastructure, hoping to meet ambitious climate goals.

6. After inflation.

• Western economies will face a delicate balancing act, trying to reduce deficits without stalling growth.
• By the end of 2025, some countries will have implemented painful tax hikes or spending cuts, while others may still be struggling with tough decisions.
• America’s hefty tariffs are bound to aggravate inflationary pressures and could lead to renewed economic uncertainty.
• Defence budgets across the West must rise, given growing geopolitical tensions.

7. Age-old questions.

• Debates about age limits for leaders are bound to intensify, as populations grow uneasy about their ageing representatives.
• By 2025, China will likely have seized economic opportunities in industries catering to older populations.
• In contrast, the Middle East’s booming youth population is set to create both opportunities and risks, with job shortages likely to fuel unrest.

8. Crunch time for AI.

• The AI boom will continue, but by the end of 2025, the technology’s tangible value will have either proven itself or spooked investors.
• “Agentic” AI systems are bound to revolutionize sectors like medicine, with AI-developed drugs likely to hit the market soon.
• Adoption rates for AI tools may remain low officially, though widespread covert use by workers can’t be ruled out.
• Companies spending billions on AI infrastructure must see significant returns soon to maintain investor confidence.

9. Travel troubles.

• Global travel will face new challenges as conflicts disrupt aviation routes and stricter border controls come into effect.
• By 2025, Europe is likely to see a reshaping of its Schengen system, with more countries enforcing unilateral restrictions.
• Overtourism will diminish, but the introduction of permanent travel regulations in popular cities can’t be undone.
• The global movement of people may become more contentious, as nations struggle to balance security with economic needs.

10. Life of surprises.

• Unforeseen events, like solar storms or another pandemic, are bound to occur, reminding the world of its unpredictability.
• By 2025, discoveries such as lost ancient texts or groundbreaking scientific advancements may reshape our understanding of history or technology.
• Assassination attempts and unconventional geopolitical tactics must be anticipated in this era of heightened instability.
• While some surprises will defy expectations, others are likely to underscore the fragility of our interconnected world.

HOW TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE PREDICTIONS?

Will or going to

In many sentences and situations, either will or going to is possible. However, in general use will:

1. To make predictions based on experience:
   • We’ve increased the salary so more people will apply.
2. To give or ask for information about the future:
   • When will we need to be ready?
3. To make promises, requests, and threats:
   • Will you give me a hand?
4. To make spontaneous decisions (at the time of speaking):
   • You’re running late? OK, well, I’ll start the presentation without you.

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Be going to

5. To make predictions based on our current feelings and thoughts:
   • I’m going to get angry in a minute.
6. To talk or ask about plans or intentions:
   • Sue’s going to attend the Milan conference in June.
7. To talk about decisions that have already been made:
   • I’m going to give Ed a written warning, no matter what he says.

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Certainty and the future

1. Several modals can be used to make predictions about change in the future, with different degrees of certainty:
   • The recession in Spain might/could/will affect sales across Europe.
2. With similar meaning, will + adverbial (adverbial + won’t) is possible:
   • The Spanish recession will perhaps affect pan-European sales.
   • The euro’s strength probably won’t continue beyond June.
3. We can also use a range of adjectives:
   • With structures like be … to …:
     • The Spanish recession is (unlikely/expected/certain/bound) to affect sales across Europe.
4. With structures like It’s … that … will …:
   • It’s (unlikely/probable/certain) that the Spanish recession will affect sales across Europe.

We can also use adverbs of degree (quite, very, really, etc.) with most of these structures, to add emphasis or distance:

• The Spanish recession is quite likely to affect sales across Europe.

Future Perfect Simple

1. To predict completed actions by a certain point in the future:
   • By the end of 2025, many countries will have implemented stricter climate policies.
   • Most governments will have reduced their inflation rates by next year.
2. To express certainty about actions that will have been achieved:
   • The AI industry will have developed multiple revolutionary applications by the next decade.
   • By 2030, global emissions will have peaked, according to optimistic forecasts.
3. To speculate about what will already be done:
   • By the time Mr. Trump’s term ends, he will have made major changes to trade policies.
   • The Chinese government will have exported millions of electric vehicles by mid-2025.

Future Perfect Continuous

1. To describe the duration of an activity up to a point in the future:
   • By the end of the year, AI companies will have been spending over $1 trillion on data centers for more than five years.
   • By 2026, developing countries will have been expanding renewable energy production for over a decade.
2. To speculate about ongoing trends or long-term efforts:
   • By 2030, China will have been leading the clean-tech boom for 15 years.
   • The “quartet of chaos” will have been disrupting global politics for years by the time new alliances emerge.
3. To emphasize persistence or continuity of an activity until a future point:
   • By next summer, global trade tensions will have been escalating for nearly a year due to rising tariffs.
   • By 2025, the youth population in the Middle East will have been struggling with unemployment for decades.

Using „Must” for High Certainty

1. Speculating about inevitable outcomes:
   • The clean-tech boom must drive major economic shifts by 2025.
   • The AI industry must deliver groundbreaking results to justify its $1 trillion investment.
2. Expressing confidence in trends or ongoing situations:
   • The quartet of chaos must cause further global disruptions, given America’s transactional stance.
   • The youth population in the Middle East must find it increasingly difficult to secure jobs if governments fail to act.

Using „May/Might” for Possibility

1. Speculating about potential outcomes:
   • AI-driven healthcare may revolutionize the medical industry by the end of the decade.
   • New leaders might struggle to deliver on their promises, leading to widespread unrest.
2. Exploring less certain or tentative outcomes:
   • The trade war between the US and China may escalate further in 2025, affecting global supply chains.
   • Global emissions might peak earlier than expected, thanks to advances in renewable energy.
3. Considering alternate scenarios:
   • America’s foreign alliances may weaken under the “America First” policy, but regional powers might step in to fill the void.
   • Chinese companies might dominate global markets if they continue building factories in strategic locations.

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Using „Can’t” for Impossibility

1. Ruling out certain outcomes:
   • China’s dominance in clean tech can’t slow down anytime soon, given the scale of their investment.
   • Mr. Trump’s policies can’t lead to reduced tariffs; they are inherently protectionist.
2. Speculating about implausible scenarios:
   • America’s alliances can’t remain unaffected if the government continues its isolationist policies.
   • The global youth unemployment crisis can’t improve unless major economic reforms are introduced.
3. Highlighting contradictions or unlikely results:
   • Global decoupling between the US and China can’t fully happen, as their economies remain deeply intertwined.
   • European travel restrictions can’t be eased entirely, given the ongoing security concerns.

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