Navigating the Digital Frontier: The Impact of AI on Internet Search and US Privacy in the Coming Era

Daily, we are monitored hundreds, if not thousands, of times within the digital realm. This information is gathered, combined with other particulars, and utilized to formulate extremely tailored profiles that are subsequently shared or sold, frequently without our explicit awareness or approval.

A growing agreement exists that individuals in the U.S. require enhanced privacy safeguards—and that an effective means to achieve this would be for Congress to enact sweeping national privacy legislation.

So what should individuals anticipate for their personal information in 2025? We consulted privacy specialists and advocates about their thoughts on how our digital information might be exchanged or safeguarded in the future. Read the complete story.

—Eileen Guo

This article is part of MIT Technology Review’s What’s Next series, which examines various industries, trends, and technologies to provide you an initial glimpse into the future. You can explore the rest of them here.

How hopeful are you regarding the future of AI?

The commencement of a new year, particularly this one, seems like an ideal moment for introspection: How hopeful are you about the forthcoming developments in technology? 

Our yearly compilation of the 10 Breakthrough Technologies, released on Friday, could aid you in forming your opinion. Artificial intelligence drives four of the innovations highlighted in this list, and I anticipate that your attitudes toward them will differ significantly. Read the complete story.

—James O’Donnell