When we asked 11 AIs to describe 2025 in one word, only one talked about the real world
Note: This article was originally published by Tina Saul on LinkedIn.
In 2025, AI models primarily describe the year as one of "integration" and "calibration". For UK SMEs, this signifies a shift from experimental hype to practical, operational implementation. While AI focuses on workflow, human leadership remains essential to navigate real-world economic and geopolitical turbulence that these tools cannot yet predict.
TL;DR
The "Me" Bias: Ten out of 11 AIs chose words describing their own role in your office.
Quiet Work: The focus has moved toward incremental, unglamorous adjustment.
The Outlier: Only Grok mentioned real-world events like political shifts and climate events.
The Takeaway: AI is a tool for your world, but it does not replace your human perspective.
The consensus of the "Quiet Year"
I recently put a simple question to 11 of the leading AI models: "What one word summarises 2025?"
I expected a few buzzwords. Instead, the responses felt like a vocabulary lesson in middle management. Words like calibration, adaptation, and integration dominated the list.
It seems the "Age of Wonder" has matured. We have moved from asking "should we use these tools?" to the characteristically pragmatic approach: how do we actually make this work with our existing spreadsheets?
Why does AI have tunnel vision?
There was a glaring pattern in the responses. Nine of the models focused entirely on the unglamorous work of AI fitting into human systems. They seem to be looking into a mirror instead of at the horizon.
While these models described their own "interwoven" nature, only Grok pointed outside. It chose "turbulent", citing wildfires, ceasefires, and political upheaval.
A human perspective for the holidays
For a time-poor business owner in the UK, this is an important reminder. AI is helpful for processing the data we provide, but it often lacks the context of the "real world" - the HMRC changes, the local supply chain issues, or the mood of your team on a rainy Tuesday.
As we wrap up 2025, remember that AI can clear the administrative tasks off your desk. This gives you the mental space to handle the turbulence and the triumphs yourself.
From all of us at KINTAL, we wish you a wonderful festive season. May your break be full of rest and your 2026 be full of human-led success.
Coffee chat in the New Year? If you are planning your AI strategy for January to March 2026, let's grab a virtual coffee. We can talk about making the tools work for your people so you can focus on what matters.