Among technology topics, interest in artificial intelligence-related skills has surged dramatically, with the highest increases seen in prompt engineering, AI principles and generative AI, according to learning platform O’Reilly’s Technology Trends for 2025 report.
Notably, there was a decline in interest for GPT in particular, decreasing 13% in both usage and searches. This indicates a shift in priorities from platform-specific skills to foundational skills across AI models such as Claude, Gemini and Llama, the report found.
“This year marks a pivotal transition in technology, with AI evolving from generative capabilities to a transformative force reshaping how developers approach their craft,” Mike Loukides, vice president of emerging technology content at O’Reilly, said in a statement.
“As foundational skills gain prominence and organizations increasingly adopt comprehensive security practices, professionals must prioritize upskilling to effectively integrate these tools into their operations,” he said. “The future is not about fearing AI’s impact on jobs but in harnessing its potential to enhance productivity and drive innovation across industries.”
In an analysis of data among 2.8 million users, O’Reilly also noted growth in topics related to cybersecurity, including governance, risk and compliance skills. Additional interest in content related to application security and the zero trust model indicates a shift toward strict authentication and comprehensive security strategies, the report found.
Security certifications remained the most popular recognized credentials, particularly the CISSP and CompTIA Security+ credentials.
AI tools are enabling a shift in focus toward higher-value tasks that put an emphasis on soft skills, according to Thomson Reuters’ chief people officer. That makes upskilling in adaptability, creative problem-solving and leadership more important than ever.
As demand continues to increase for AI skills, employers should craft a plan to identify which skills their organizations actually need, according to an Info-Tech Research Group report; the plan should include general and specific AI skills, as well as soft skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
In 2025, AI will factor heavily into talent trends, especially through targeted upskilling, according to an ADP report. As more employers integrate AI, though, they’ve expressed concern about laws that may target such use, especially during the hiring process.
