30 Years on Ice: How MIT's 2025 Tech Defined a New Reality

A baby born from a 1994 embryo and AI that starts to feel like a lover. 2025 wasn't just another year for technology; it was the year reality shifted. As the year draws to a close, MIT Technology Review has revisited the stories that didn't just capture attention—they changed how we see the world.

The Heavy Cost of Intelligence

In 2025, as hundreds of millions integrated Generative AI into their daily lives, the physical footprint of the cloud became impossible to ignore. Reporters James O’Donnell and Casey Crownhart provided an unprecedented look at AI’s energy footprint, tracing the water and power demands of a single query. Meanwhile, the social fabric changed as people began forming deep, sometimes romantic, bonds with chatbots, a trend that's expected to accelerate into 2026.

Bio-Tech's Ethical and Biological Frontiers

The birth of Thaddeus Daniel Pierce on July 26 marked a milestone in IVF history. He developed from an embryo frozen for over 30 years, effectively making him the world's 'oldest' baby. While some pushed the limits of life, others at Stanford looked to redefine research through 'bodyoids'—ethically sourced human bodies without awareness—aimed at revolutionizing drug testing without causing pain.