January 2, 2026 • 21 mins
Past years: 2023 2024
Continuing a yearly tradition, I evaluate AI predictions from past years, and collect a convenience sample of AI predictions made this year. In terms of selection, I prefer selecting specific predictions, especially ones made about the near term, enabling faster evaluation.
Evaluated predictions made about 2025 in 2023, 2024, or 2025 mostly overestimate AI capabilities advances, although there's of course a selection effect (people making notable predictions about the near-term are more likely to believe AI will be impressive near-term).
As time goes on, "AGI" becomes a less useful term, so operationalizing predictions is especially important. In terms of predictions made in 2025, there is a significant cluster of people predicting very large AI effects by 2030. Observations in the coming years will disambiguate.
Predictions about 2025
2023
Jessica Taylor: "Wouldn't be surprised if this exact prompt got solved, but probably something nearby that's easy for humans won't be solved?"
The prompt: "Find a sequence of words that is: - 20 words long - contains exactly 2 repetitions of the same word twice in a row - contains exactly 2 repetitions of the same word thrice in a row"
Self-evaluation: False; I underestimated LLM progress [...]
---
Outline:
(01:09) Predictions about 2025
(03:35) Predictions made in 2025 about 2025
(05:31) Predictions made in 2025
---
First published:
January 1st, 2026
Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/69qnNx8S7wkSKXJFY/2025-in-ai-predictions
---
Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.
Continuing a yearly tradition, I evaluate AI predictions from past years, and collect a convenience sample of AI predictions made this year. In terms of selection, I prefer selecting specific predictions, especially ones made about the near term, enabling faster evaluation.
Evaluated predictions made about 2025 in 2023, 2024, or 2025 mostly overestimate AI capabilities advances, although there's of course a selection effect (people making notable predictions about the near-term are more likely to believe AI will be impressive near-term).
As time goes on, "AGI" becomes a less useful term, so operationalizing predictions is especially important. In terms of predictions made in 2025, there is a significant cluster of people predicting very large AI effects by 2030. Observations in the coming years will disambiguate.
Predictions about 2025
2023
Jessica Taylor: "Wouldn't be surprised if this exact prompt got solved, but probably something nearby that's easy for humans won't be solved?"
The prompt: "Find a sequence of words that is: - 20 words long - contains exactly 2 repetitions of the same word twice in a row - contains exactly 2 repetitions of the same word thrice in a row"
Self-evaluation: False; I underestimated LLM progress [...]
---
Outline:
(01:09) Predictions about 2025
(03:35) Predictions made in 2025 about 2025
(05:31) Predictions made in 2025
---
First published:
January 1st, 2026
Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/69qnNx8S7wkSKXJFY/2025-in-ai-predictions
---
Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.
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