A Survey of Next-Generation AI and Its Evolving Landscape
Asifullah Khan, Hira Amjad, Rahat Hameed, Hira Amjad, Rahat Hameed, Muhammad Ahmed Bilal, Dure Shahwar Fazal, Afshan Rehman, Sohaib Naveed Chohan, Summuyya Munib · 2025
AI began as a theory only, but now it has evolved into a strong & revolutionary force. This force is changing industries workflow, global economies operate, governments run, and how we live our daily life via various emerging AI technologies. Considering the current evolution and rapid advancements of AI, we present this survey to deliver an in-depth review of 15 emerging AI technologies. In this survey, we will discuss their technical foundations, impact, real-world applications with statistical evidence followed by challenges & future directions. Key emerging technologies we’ve covered in this survey include Edge AI, Generative AI, Self-Supervised Learning, Explainable AI, Multi-Modal models, Causal AI, Synthetic Data Generation, Transfer Learning, Group Policy Optimization, Mixture of Experts, Neuromorphic Computing, AI for Sustainability, Federated Learning, as well as AI Ethics and Fairness. Our survey is also extended to Quantum ML. What makes our survey stand out is the multidimensional approach we have taken. In addition to the technical progress, we address critical concerns such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and environmental sustainability, while emphasizing solutions for secure collaboration and efficient large-scale modeling. Moreover, we have enlisted the latest challenges, limitations in existing technologies following future directions. Also, we’ve excluded outdated literature to ensure that our survey addresses the latest concerns and developments in AI. Hence, this survey is a roadmap for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders navigating through the future of AI, pointing out the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and responsible innovation.