John Whelan: Will AI be the international trade driver in 2025?

AI is shaping up to be a’ must-have’ for 2025 likely to affect every aspect of a company’s operations from product development, customer service, to marketing, and sales

Today’s retail business landscape is increasingly using AI to reach consumers. File photo

The 2025 economic crystal ball remains cloudy, with an array of scenarios hanging in the balance. It’s a head scratcher for business executives, do they go with the AI momentum or stick to their value proposition that has stood them well in prior economic turbulences.

The value propositions from Volkswagen, Nike, Starbucks and Abercrombie & Fitch, all former pillars of success, are now struggling to meet the demands of a new era. These established companies succumbed, like Kodak in the past, to the 'innovators' dilemma' overemphasising the continuity of customer choice from last year's data and overlooking new trends and innovations.