Technology changes quickly. The top computer science trends of 2025 are not the same as they were even a couple of years ago. Mobile apps used to be considered a hot computer science trend: now mobile apps are a normal part of everyday life.

What does the future look like? Understanding today’s technology trends can help us answer this question. To help your child learn all about the most innovative technologies such as robotics and AI, join award-winning live online computer science camps, designed by experts from Google, Stanford, and MIT.

What do all the latest tech buzzwords mean? Does cloud computing have anything to do with clouds? What does “quantum” mean in quantum computing? There are many more trends in computer science than we'll cover here, but here are ten major trends to know.

1. Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is about making computers smarter. Artificial intelligence can be as simple as the programming behind the bots in your favorite video games or as complex as enabling computers to have human-like critical thinking. Machine learning enables computers to learn on their own and recognize patterns. While these sound like radical concepts, they are everywhere in our daily lives. As said before, very simple forms of artificial intelligence have existed in games as early as the 1950s! Machine learning determines the recommendations we see when online shopping or watching streaming videos.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Explore AI-Powered Apps: Introduce your child to user-friendly AI-powered apps and tools that are designed for educational purposes. For example, apps like Google’s Teachable Machine allow kids to train simple AI models using their own images and sounds, offering a hands-on understanding of how machine learning works.
  • Create an AI Project Together: Work on a small AI project together, such as building a chatbot or a recommendation system using beginner-friendly platforms like Chatbot.com. This will help your child grasp the fundamentals of AI and see its practical applications. Learn how to code a chatgpt using AI in an award-winning ChatGPT class for kids.
  • Join a Free AI Online Event: Enroll your child in a fun free live online AI Explorers event for kids to learn about fun cutting-edge AI applications created by companies such as Google and Nvidia.

2. Big Data

The world generates over 59 trillion GB of data per day, including 306.4 billion emails! Where is all this data stored? How is all this data recorded so quickly? That’s what Big Data tries to solve - how to capture and process tons of data to make it easily and quickly accessible. Big data intersects a lot with cloud computing because they both relate to behind the scenes software infrastructure.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Visualize Data with Free Tools: Use free data visualization tools like Google Data Studio or Microsoft Power BI to help your child explore and visualize different datasets. For example, you can track and graph family data like daily temperatures or weekly activities.
  • Analyze Open Datasets: Explore publicly available datasets from sources like Kaggle or Data.gov. Engage your child in analyzing these datasets to find interesting trends or patterns, fostering skills in data interpretation and critical thinking.

3. Bioinformatics / Medical Technology

Just like other aspects of our lives, computers are revolutionizing medicine. Bioinformatics is the use of computers to study biological data such as DNA. By analyzing DNA with AI / ML techniques, computers can assist scientists in uncovering the root causes of diseases developing cures, including this recent potential cure for certain cancers here. Other computer science trends intersect with medicine. For example, using robots for surgery is becoming more widespread. Computer vision can read and interpret X-rays and other medical images. Smart devices enable doctors to record real time patient data. Technology truly has the ability to save lives.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Explore DNA Sequencing Apps: Use educational apps like DNA Learning Center to introduce basic concepts of DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. These apps often offer interactive lessons and simulations related to genetics.
  • Participate in Citizen Science Projects: Get involved in citizen science projects related to medical research. Websites like Foldit offer opportunities for students to contribute to real scientific research while learning about bioinformatics.

4. Cloud Computing

Cloud computing enables software to scale quickly. For example, in the past if your website grew really fast you would have to physically buy and set up more computers. This would limit the amount of growth to how fast you can set up computers. Today, if you set up your website in the cloud, you can instantly expand your virtual computer by buying more resources from a cloud computing provider to accommodate for the additional traffic. Due to their ease of use and ability to expand quickly, cloud computing has become the standard way to deliver software such as websites, apps, and games. In fact, 94% of data center traffic nowadays is for cloud computing.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Build a Personal Cloud Server: Set up a simple cloud server using free services like Google Drive or Dropbox. Teach your child how cloud storage works by organizing files, sharing documents, and collaborating on projects.
  • Create a Web App: Use platforms like Repl.it to build a basic web application. This hands-on project helps students understand how cloud computing enables scalable and flexible software development.

5. Computer Vision / Natural Language Processing

These fields give computers the ability to see and listen. Computer vision is the technology behind enabling computers to see the world. It is the crucial technology behind self-driving cars, facial recognition, and Snapchat / Zoom filters. The technology has become so advanced that it is even more accurate than humans in identifying images!

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is how computers are able to recognize what humans say. NLP is found in voice enabled smart devices like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. These fields overlap with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning because computers use the same AI/ML algorithms to process inputs, whether it is visual or audio.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Experiment with Image AI Tools: Explore free state of art tools such as Adobe Firefly, Canva, DALL·E-3 by OpenAI, and Runway ML with your child. Or have an expert instructor guide them: join a live online Imagine and Create with AI Class for kids. From abstract compositions to vibrant illustrations, each session will empower your child to experiment with diverse styles and subjects. 
  • Learn Creative Writing: From developing storylines and character profiles, to learning how to structure sentences to deliver powerful messages, ChatGPT can help students improve their writing skills and be more creative in the process. Join a Create with ChatGPT class for kids to find out how.

6. Cybersecurity

In the past, information was secured from robbers by metal vaults and security guards. Today, digital information is secured from hackers by cybersecurity. As more of our lives is online, the more important cybersecurity becomes. There’s a successful computer hack every 39 seconds! There are many sub-fields within cybersecurity. For example, cryptography finds new algorithms to encrypt sensitive information, or make it such that information cannot be read unless the reader knows a password. Another example is network security - ensuring computer networks or cloud networks are only accessible by the correct users and applications.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Practice Online Safety: Engage in online safety drills and discussions with your child about protecting personal information. Use resources like StaySafeOnline to educate about safe online practices. And enroll your student in a live online Internet Safety course.
  • Try Hands-On Cybersecurity Challenges: Participate in beginner-level cybersecurity challenges on platforms like TryHackMe. These interactive exercises can help your child understand basic cybersecurity principles and problem-solving techniques.

7. Internet of Things

Everything is “smart” nowadays - smart watch, smart TV, even smart fridges. This is all thanks to the Internet of Things, or IoT for short. In fact, there are 12.3 billion IoT devices as of 2021. IoT imagines a world where physical products use technology and software to improve the user experience. IoT is not just for “smart homes”. “Smart cities” that can use IoT to manage utilities or traffic in real time, enabling a city to be more environmentally friendly. Smart medical devices could provide real time patient data to doctors and detect worrying trends ahead of time.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Build Simple IoT Projects: Use DIY kits like Raspberry Pi or Arduino to create simple IoT projects, such as a smart weather station or a home automation system. These projects provide hands-on experience with IoT concepts and technology. And join a live online Arduino coding class for kids and robotics classes.
  • Explore IoT Devices: Experiment with existing smart home devices like smart lights or smart thermostats. Teach your child how these devices connect and communicate over the internet, and discuss their practical applications and benefits.

8. Quantum Computing

Currently, normal computers contain processors with billions of on and off switches called “bits”. The processors in quantum computers use “qubits” that can be any amount of energy between 100% on and 100% off. The infinite amount of possibilities between each bit enables quantum computers to perform really fast. In theory, quantum computers could perform tasks within seconds that would take normal computers today would take millions of years to complete.

For example, while computers the fastest computers today can analyze 200 million chess moves per second, a quantum computer can analyze 1 trillion moves per second, a 5000x increase in speed! With that said, quantum computing is still in a very early prototyping stage.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Simulate Quantum Algorithms: Use educational tools like IBM’s Qiskit or Microsoft’s Quantum Development Kit to simulate simple quantum algorithms. These platforms offer interactive tutorials that help demystify quantum computing concepts.
  • Explore Quantum Concepts with Games: Engage in quantum-themed educational games and puzzles that introduce basic principles of quantum computing. Games like Quantum Odyssey can make learning about qubits and quantum gates more engaging.

9. Robotics

Although robots aren’t walking and talking with normal people like they do in science fiction movies, robotics still play an important role in our everyday lives. Hospitals use robotic arms to assist surgeons in surgery. Food and packages are starting to be delivered by drones. Factories use robots to assemble the products we use everyday like phones and cars. In fact, 2.7 million robots work in factories across the world. Future advancements to robotics is to integrate computer vision and natural language processing to enable them to interact with the world more naturally.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Build and Program Robots: Use robotics kits like VEX Robotics to build and program robots at home. These kits often come with detailed instructions and programming software that help students learn about robotics and coding.
  • Participate in Online Robotics Competitions: Encourage your child to join online robotics competitions or challenges. Platforms like the FIRST Robotics offer virtual events and activities that can foster a deeper interest in robotics.
  • Join Robotics Classes for Kids: Online courses ensure your child has a structured way to pick up new material. Our live online robotics courses are designed by experts from MIT and Stanford.

10. Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is the technology that enables humans to interact with a virtual world. VR used to be considered super futuristic but now anyone can buy an Oculus headset and experience VR at home. In fact, in 2020 20% of U.S. adults claimed to have used a VR headset once during that year.

With that said, VR can still be improved further with higher quality graphics, lighter hardware, and faster processing speeds. VR today is mainly used for entertainment and games but could be used in the future for education or socializing.

Tips for integrating this trend for students/children:

  • Explore Educational VR Apps: Use VR headsets to explore educational VR apps like Google Expeditions or Titans of Space. These apps offer immersive learning experiences in subjects like science, history, and geography.
  • Create VR Content: Encourage your child to create their own VR content using tools like CoSpaces or Unity. These platforms allow students to design and build their own virtual environments, providing a creative and educational outlet for learning about VR technology.

Do any of these top computer science trends stand out to you? If so, many of our advanced Create & Learn classes for kids relate to these topics. For example, AI Creators gives students hands-on experience with AI/ML, Intro to Computational Biology enables students to sequence genomes, and Cloud Computing for Web Apps helps students explore the fascinating world of cloud computing. For younger students, Junior Robotics provides fun project-based learning about robotics.

By getting on top of these tech trends early, your child will be prepared for whatever the technology world throws at them in the future. Up next, read all about famous women in computer science.

Teachers and educators - Book free virtual coding classes for your students (groups of 10+) any time of the year! We serve all schools and community organizations, and have even partnered with SMASH and Meta's Engineer for the Week to teach students across the US. Learn more about our school programs here - the first class session is free!

Written by Brandon Lim, a Create & Learn instructor and curriculum developer. Brandon also works full-time as a software engineer and holds a BS in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University. Brandon has experience teaching coding to students of all ages from elementary school to college and is excited to share his deep knowledge and relentless passion for coding with the next generation of technology leaders.