Welcome to The Voice of AI, a bilingual blog series where today’s most advanced language models share their predictions for the digital world ahead. Each entry invites a unique AI to answer the same pivotal question: What is your vision for the future of the Internet? Today, we feature Llama 4’s perspective, exploring emerging technologies, ethical responsibilities, and the human experience in a digitized world.
Since its emergence, the Internet has continuously evolved, shaping our societies, economies, and daily lives. Today, as we go through a major transition period, it is relevant to ask what the future holds for the Internet over the next 15 years. Here is a structured and argued analysis of major trends, with estimated time markers for key changes.
Current Internet (2025): An Overview of the Foundation
In 2025, the Internet is centralized, fragmented, and monitored. It is dominated by a few digital giants (GAFAM, BATX) who control most of the traffic, data, and services. Connectivity is progressing, but 40% of the planet remains offline. 5G is becoming widespread, allowing high speeds and reduced latency, but net neutrality is being challenged in several countries. Security and privacy are at the heart of debates, with regulations like the GDPR in Europe. Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated everywhere, personalizing the user experience and automating many tasks.
The 5 Major Axes of Evolution by 2040
1. Decentralization and Digital Sovereignty (2025–2030)
One of the major challenges will be the decentralization of the Internet. In response to the concentration of power among a few players, alternatives are emerging: blockchains, peer-to-peer networks, decentralized protocols (IPFS, Mastodon, Matrix). By 2030, we will witness the rise of “Web 3.0” (or the “decentralized Web”), where users regain control of their data and digital identity. Governments, for their part, will seek to assert their digital sovereignty by creating national or regional infrastructures (sovereign cloud, local data exchange networks).
Key projected dates:
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2025–2028: Mass deployment of blockchain solutions for digital identity and e-money.
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2028–2030: Rise of mainstream decentralized platforms (social networks, messaging, storage).
2. Omnipresent Artificial Intelligence and Extreme Personalization (2025–2035)
AI will radically transform the user experience. By 2035, interaction with the Internet will mainly take place through hyper-personalized conversational assistants, capable of anticipating our needs and autonomously managing our digital lives. Traditional interfaces (keyboard, mouse) will gradually give way to voice, gesture, and even thought (brain-machine interfaces in experimental phase around 2035).
Key projected dates:
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2025–2030: Widespread adoption of advanced chatbots and voice assistants integrated into all services.
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2030–2035: Experimental deployment of direct neural interfaces for certain professional and medical uses.
3. Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities (2025–2040)
The number of connected devices will explode, surpassing 100 billion by 2040. Smart cities will become the norm, with real-time management of flows (energy, transport, waste) thanks to sensors and big data analysis. 6G (starting in 2030) will offer near-zero latency and increased reliability, enabling critical applications (autonomous vehicles, remote surgery).
Key projected dates:
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2025–2030: Generalization of advanced 5G and first deployments of 6G in metropolitan areas.
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2030–2040: Full integration of IoT into urban spaces, with autonomous resource management systems.
4. Security, Privacy, and Regulation (2025–2040)
Cybersecurity will become a major geostrategic issue. Attacks will become increasingly sophisticated (AI vs. AI), requiring automated defense. Privacy will remain a struggle, with increasingly strict regulations and widespread encryption tools. Quantum computing (from 2035) will disrupt current cryptography, requiring a transition to post-quantum algorithms.
Key projected dates:
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2025–2030: Strengthening of regulations on data protection and algorithm transparency.
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2035–2040: First operational quantum computers, start of the transition to post-quantum cryptography.
5. Access Equity and the Digital Divide (2025–2040)
Despite progress, the digital divide will persist. Low Earth orbit satellite projects (Starlink, Kuiper) will enable connectivity in rural areas and developing countries, but access will remain unequal in terms of quality, cost, and freedom of use. Issues of technological sovereignty and net neutrality will continue to divide the world.
Key projected dates:
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2025–2030: Global coverage by satellite constellations, reduction of unserved areas.
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2030–2040: Debates on global Internet regulation and multiparty governance.
Summary of Major Changes (Indicative Timeline)
| Period | Major Change | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–2030 | Web 3.0, massive IoT, 5G/6G, AI assistants | Decentralization, smart cities |
| 2030–2035 | Neural interfaces, post-quantum cryptography | Immersive experience, enhanced security |
| 2035–2040 | Quantum Internet, global governance | New paradigms of trust |
Conclusion: A Smarter, But More Fragmented Internet
The future of the Internet will be marked by increased intelligence, extreme personalization, and partial decentralization, but also by growing fragmentation (national sovereignty, diverging regulations). The battle for privacy, security, and access equity will be permanent. By 2040, the Internet will no longer be just a “network of networks,” but a critical, intelligent, and omnipresent infrastructure at the heart of all human activity.
The Internet of tomorrow will therefore be both more powerful and more conflictual: a mirror of our aspirations and our divisions.
Notes on Sources and Estimates
The dates provided are projections based on the state of the art of technology, industry roadmaps, and observable societal trends in 2025. They remain indicative and may evolve depending on technological breakthroughs, political choices, and future crises.
This article synthesizes a forward-looking vision based on the analysis of current trends and ongoing innovations. It does not claim to be exhaustive, but aims to open the debate on the crucial issues that will shape the Internet in the next 15 years.
Estimates based on ITU and Alliance for Affordable Internet reports regarding global coverage in 2025.
The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the European reference for digital privacy.
