In this spirit, let us celebrate the remarkable breakthroughs of 2024 that shaped our world and consider the predictions for 2025, a year poised to redefine human potential. With the advent of cutting-edge technology, space exploration milestones, and transformative AI systems, it’s an exhilarating time to reflect and imagine. Let’s now embark on this journey of retrospection and anticipation together as I bring you my top five breakthroughs of 2024 and my top five predictions for 2025. These are mere observations and a personal journey of reflection, hope, and anticipation. Let’s step into this together.

  1. OpenAI’s o1: AI Achieves 120 IQ
    I remember sitting in my study, surrounded by books, reading about OpenAI’s latest milestone. It was one of those moments when I felt the weight of progress in my hands. The o1 model is not just another leap in AI but a monumental shift. With an IQ of 120, this AI is thinking, reasoning, and solving problems at a level comparable to human experts. It’s not just about answering questions anymore; it’s about understanding the world’s complexities.

This breakthrough holds immense promise. Imagine AI systems that can contribute to medical research, solve climate change puzzles, or redefine the education sector. OpenAI’s achievement underscores that we are edging closer to Artificial General Intelligence, where AI can reason and adapt across disciplines. It’s exhilarating and slightly unnerving, but as Sam Altman said, o1 is only Level 2 out of 5. The journey ahead is as exciting as it is unpredictable.

  1. SpaceX’s Starship “Chopsticks” Landing
    October 13, 2024, is a date etched in my memory. Watching SpaceX’s Starship perform its historic “chopsticks” landing was mesmerising. The precision with which the Super Heavy booster was caught mid-air felt like a choreographed ballet in space. Elon Musk called it a step toward making life multi-planetary, and I couldn’t agree more.

    This feat is a testament to the power of innovation and ambition. Full reusability in spaceflight isn’t just a technological marvel; it’s a game-changer. It means cheaper, faster, and more frequent launches, paving the way for Moon colonies and human outposts on Mars. Musk’s vision of building a fleet of 1,000 Starships doesn’t feel far-fetched anymore—it feels inevitable.
  2. Google’s Willow Quantum Chip
    Quantum computing has always fascinated me. When I read about Google’s Willow chip, I couldn’t help but marvel at how far we’ve come. Willow’s ability to correct errors—a challenge that stumped scientists for decades—is revolutionary. This chip completed calculations in minutes that would take traditional supercomputers billions of years.

The implications are staggering. With error correction finally within reach, quantum computing can revolutionise fields like drug discovery, material science, and climate modelling. It’s as if humanity has unlocked a new dimension of problem-solving that could redefine what we consider possible.

  1. DeepMind’s AlphaProteo: Revolutionizing Medicine
    The news of AlphaProteo designing custom proteins to fight diseases felt like a glimpse into the future. Imagine a world where finding a cure isn’t a matter of trial and error but a precise, calculated process. AlphaProteo’s ability to slash research timelines from years to weeks is miraculous.

This breakthrough is personal for me. As someone who has closely followed advancements in medicine, I see this as a turning point. From combating cancer to fighting pandemics, the potential applications are limitless. DeepMind has given humanity a powerful tool to extend healthspan and improve quality of life.

  1. Musk’s Colossus Cluster
    Elon Musk’s ventures always seem larger than life, and the Colossus cluster is no exception. With 100,000 GPUs powering the world’s most extensive AI training system, xAI has set a new benchmark for computational power. What struck me most was how quickly this was achieved—just 122 days.

This leap in AI computing power isn’t just about breaking records but driving innovation. Whether autonomous vehicles, robotics, or consumer-facing AI systems, Colossus will be the engine powering the next wave of breakthroughs. Never bet against Musk—his audacity and vision continue to redefine the limits of possibility.

Predictions: A Glimpse into Tomorrow
As I see them, predictions are like seeds sown in the fertile soil of possibility, watered by reason and nurtured by imagination. These are not mere flights of fancy; they are forecasts grounded in strong foundations. And now, as the world turns another page in its story, I share a handful of predictions I believe will undoubtedly come to pass. Let us wait and watch as the months unfold to see if my visions align with reality. If they do, let’s cheer together at the marvel of foresight. If they don’t, the seeds will only be waiting for another season to sprout.

Among these predictions, I see Bitcoin surging to an astonishing $250,000 per coin by the year’s end—a phoenix rising from past volatility, heralding a new age for digital currencies. Somewhere in a lab, brilliant scientists will successfully upload a million neurons of a honeybee into a neural network, a dazzling feat that brings us closer to unlocking the mysteries of nature’s genius. And then there’s Grok 3, Elon Musk’s audacious brainchild, which I believe will break all barriers and achieve an IQ of 140, soaring past the bounds of what we once thought machines could accomplish.

These are just a few glimpses of what I see ahead. I hold countless other visions close to my heart, waiting for the world to catch up. For now, let’s embrace my top 5 predictions for 2025.

  1. Starship Demonstrates Full Reusability
    I believe 2025 will be the year Starship achieves full reusability. This is not just a technological milestone but a paradigm shift. Fully reusable spacecraft will make space travel as routine as air travel. Musk’s vision of colonising Mars hinges on this achievement, and 2025 feels like the year it will finally happen.

This prediction stems from Musk’s track record of delivering the impossible. SpaceX’s relentless testing and iterative development approach make me confident that this breakthrough is imminent. When it happens, it will redefine humanity’s relationship with space.

  1. Humanoid Robots Cross 1,000 Units
    Humanoid robots have long been a staple of science fiction, but 2025 will mark their transition into reality. With Tesla’s Optimus and Figure AI targeting affordability, robots will be integrated into industries like healthcare, logistics, and domestic work.

Given the current trajectory, this prediction feels inevitable. Humanoid robots will fill critical gaps caused by labour shortages and an ageing population. Their potential to enhance productivity and improve quality of life makes this an exciting frontier.

  1. Trump Announces “Boots on Mars by 2030”
    The echoes of JFK’s moonshot challenge will resonate in 2025 when I believe the Trump administration will announce an ambitious goal: putting boots on Mars by 2030. This proclamation will galvanise public and private sectors, accelerating space exploration.

I foresee this happening because the political climate and technological advancements are aligning. SpaceX’s Mars missions and NASA’s Artemis program make this goal plausible. The first boots may be robotic, but they will symbolise humanity’s next giant leap.

  1. Gen-IV Nuclear Power Takes Off
    The demand for clean, scalable energy will drive the adoption of Gen-IV nuclear power in 2025. With Big Tech giants like Google and Amazon investing in atomic reactors, this prediction feels like a natural progression.

This development excites me because it addresses two pressing issues: energy sustainability and AI’s growing power demands. Gen-IV reactors promise efficiency and safety, making them a cornerstone of our energy future.

  1. Lightweight AR Glasses Become Reality
    The long-awaited arrival of lightweight AR glasses will finally happen in 2025. With companies like Meta and Apple leading the charge, these glasses will seamlessly blend digital and physical worlds.

I’ve been following AR advancements for years, and this feels like the natural next step. From real-time navigation to instant communication, these devices will revolutionise how we interact with technology and each other.

Looking Ahead with Hope
As we step into 2025, I am filled with optimism. The breakthroughs of 2024 remind us of humanity’s boundless potential, and the predictions for 2025 hint at a future brimming with possibilities. Let us embrace the spirit of Janus—learning from the past and daring to dream big for the future.

Here’s wishing all readers of Provoke Magazine a year of innovation, discovery, and progress. May 2025 be a year where the extraordinary becomes the norm, and we continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Author profile
Dr K. Jayanth Murali, author of the widely acclaimed book “ 42 Mondays” is a retired IPS officer of the rank of Director-General of Police. He served his country as an IPS officer for over 30 years. He spent his early years in Hyderabad and then moved to Delhi, where he obtained his PhD in Microbiology. Through a strange quirk of fate, he joined the Indian Police Service in 1991 and moved to Chennai.

He has handled several key and formidable assignments that earned him the prestigious President’s Police Medal in 2010 and 2015, Chief Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Public Service in 2017 and the Chief Minister’s Special Service Medal in 2019. He is an author of six published books including the best selling 42 Mondays, Soliloquies on Future Policing, Enkindling the Endorphins of Endurance, Marathon (Tamil), The Art of Peak Performance, and “A Random Potpourri”.

In addition, He is passionate about running marathons. He has carved his way into the Asia Book of Records by creating two records, one in the half-marathon category in 2018 and another in the full marathon category in 2019. He is also an avid reader, blogger, farmer and a running and nutrition coach. He loves to relax by cooking or painting.

You can discover Jayanth and his world at www.jayanthmurali.com.