AI Year in Review – Key Moments, Hot Takes, and 2026 Predictions | EP. 48

2025 was another defining year for artificial intelligence. In this special AI Year in Review episode of Hidden Layers, Ron Green is joined by Emma Pirchalski, Michael Wharton, and Dr. ZZ Si to break down what actually mattered in AI this year. The team recaps the biggest developments from 2025, revisits their predictions from 2024 to see what held up (and what didn’t), and shares honest, experience-driven predictions for 2026. Topics include multimodal models, agents, enterprise adoption, governance gaps, workforce impact, ROI pressure, and where AI is truly headed next. This episode cuts past hype to focus on what leaders, builders, and decision-makers should actually be watching as AI moves from experimentation to execution. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to 2025 AI Year in Review 00:00:56 Emma's Working Models Podcast Announcement 00:01:48 Top AI Developments of 2025 00:16:29 Reviewing 2025 Predictions 00:25:08 2026 Predictions 00:36:49 Closing Thoughts