Words and art by: Arathi 

In the last five years, we’ve created our own villain, healing, and brain rot eras.

As we progress through the digital years, the world is starting to appear stranger and unpredictable. With all the quirky cultural shifts we have been part of, the future promises to be anything but boring. With the number of ‘skibidi’s used in conversations going up, 2025 is gearing up to be one of the most bizarre years so far. So, grab your close ones (or your virtual ones, if that’s more your speed) for five visions we’ve glimpsed at through the crystal ball behind the Queen Victoria Market laneway.

AI Robot Buddy

The world’s technology is moving at breakneck speed. Remember the good old days when our best friend was a real person? Well in 2025, our BFF might just be an AI robot. Think WALL-E with the added charm of Baymax, capable of keeping track of your schedule, cheering you up after a bad day, or even be your unpaid therapist. Recent studies suggest that AI excels at picking up on emotional cues in text and responding in ways that make people feel heard. This could potentially revolutionise the way we interact and form emotional connections. Who knew our next heart-to-heart would be with a machine? 

Manifesting Lady Gaga for the Oscar

2024 might have been the year of Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, but 2025? It’s all about Gaga. The world is ready for Lady Gaga to take home the Oscar. In her upcoming movie ‘Joker 2’ alongside Joaquin Phoenix, I feel that we might just witness the best and most disturbed Joker-Quinn duo yet. The internet is collectively set to lose its mind for mother, mothering! 

Virtual Vacations 

I don’t know if this is just because I want to finally afford a trip to Europe, but with virtual reality (VR) advancing, 2025 may see virtual vacations becoming part of mainstream tourism. If you’ve ever fantasised about strolling through the streets of Paris, this might just be the ticket. Is it sad? Yes. Is it going to be holiday season every month? Yes! With advances in haptic technology, not to mention 360-degree visuals, these virtual getaways might even make us forget we’re still in our PJs. Apple has already dipped its toes into this world with their Apple Vision Pro. And we have already got people on the streets with VR headsets, simulating their own little slice of dystopian life. Sure, it seems a bit pricey now, but think of it as a one-time expense for a lifetime of travel. Who knows? Might be worth it after all.

Economy Dips

This one is quite the worrying reminder. Now that I’m officially an adult, I’ve discovered that complaining about the economy is practically a rite of passage. And with good reason – our economy is already on the brink. 2025 might be the year Australia faces its ‘overdue’ economic downfall. Endless inflation and the interest rates to combat it might be setting us up for the worst decline of the decade. But hey, who needs a house when we have five in the metaverse? Happy New Year!

People Agree Pineapple Is the Best Pizza Topping (Bleh!)

Controversy alert! In 2025, a universal survey could settle one of the most divisive debates of our time – the legitimacy of pineapple on pizza. With social media pages like Instagram’s @pubity already conducting worldwide polls on everything from the best actors to best smells – bacon being the unexpected winner – It’s only a matter of time before pizza toppings get their most awaited turn. In an outlandish twist, the results might show a landslide victory for the sweet-and-savoury combo, finally putting the age-old argument to rest. Pineapple lovers will continue to be judged, while the rest of us will be left wondering how such a culinary crime has gone unpunished, let alone celebrated. Prepare for more endless memes and heated dinner table debates. 

So, there we have it – five predictions for 2025 that are bound to keep things interesting. Whether or not these visions come true, one thing’s for sure: the future will be a wild ride, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us.