Where AI is creating value ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

DELIVERING ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS ON THE DAY’S NEWS Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Axel Karlsson, global leader of functional practices and growth platforms Welcome to the latest edition of Only McKinsey Perspectives. We hope you find our insights useful. Let us know what you think at Alex_Panas@McKinsey.com and Axel_Karlsson@McKinsey.com. —Alex and Axel Top technologies in 2025 In the news • The autonomous farm. Advances in AI and automation are revolutionizing farming by introducing autonomous tractors and optimizing crop management through sophisticated analytics, The Wall Street Journal reports. From robots and drones that harvest crops to virtual fences in ranching, the agriculture sector is deploying technology to tackle worker shortages and make farming more efficient. Although autonomous machinery and digital platforms are poised to transform agriculture, costs and connectivity remain significant challenges. [WSJ] • The reality of humanoid robots. Humanoid robots (robots with human-like features, such as arms and legs) have become enduring symbols of a futuristic society. Now, as The Washington Post notes, escalating investments in AI and improving designs that enhance the robots’ capabilities—including longer-lasting batteries—are spurring momentum to develop humanoid machines to use at home. Investment in start-ups that specialize in humanoid robotics has surpassed $5 billion since the start of 2024, one US research firm has found. [WaPo] “The idea of a digital coworker isn’t science fiction—it’s something you can apply now.”   —Lareina Yee, senior partner, McKinsey & Company On McKinsey.com • AI-powered coworkers. Agentic AI, one of 13 frontier technologies highlighted in McKinsey’s annual outlook on technology trends, is already changing how people think about the workforce, Senior Partner Lareina Yee shares on a recent episode of The McKinsey Podcast. Digital agents’ increasing autonomy to complete a wide range of tasks makes them useful in many business applications, adds Yee, who was joined by Senior Partner Sven Smit and Partner Roger Roberts for the conversation. Many organizations are already exploring how agents can increase efficiency and reimagine processes. For example, one company using agentic AI in its sales process saw an 11% increase in lead generation and conversion with the same number of salespeople. • Rise of the robots. Advancements in robotics, another top trend, are enabling machines to navigate their environments with increasing degrees of dexterity and autonomy. As Smit explains, some robots used in logistics centers can climb racks to pick up specific items. Companies are also developing humanoid robots that will likely be able to walk and move through complex spaces on their own. To harness the technology, Smit advises, businesses should analyze where robotics may be applied process by process, just as they would with AI implementation. Listen to the full episode for more on how businesses are deploying—and finding value from—critical technologies. Unleash the power of tech trends —Edited by Belinda Yu, editor, Atlanta Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here. Or send us feedback—we’d love to hear from you. Follow our thinking McKinsey Insights - Get our latest thinking on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Copyright © 2025 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007