It might have been the year of AI "slop", but 2025 also saw the emergence of some genuinely innovative, intriguing and even beneficial uses for artificial intelligence. Here, we round up eight of our favourites as part of Dezeen's Review of 2025. More about Eight actually interesting uses of AI from 2025
Global architecture studio SOM has used AI tools to inform its geometric design for the West Bund Convention Centre, which has risen beside the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China. More about SOM uses AI to design diamond-like West Bund Convention Centre in Shanghai
British designer Ross Lovegrove and his studio have collaborated with Google DeepMind to co-create a chair using a generative AI trained on the designer's sketches. More about Ross Lovegrove co-creates chair with Google AI trained to emulate his style
A steel grid wrapped in LED netting cloaks the metal ductwork of Spark 716, an AI data centre and "computing power park" in the centre of Beijing, completed by local architecture practice LLLAB. More about Exposed ducts and server rooms reveal the "heartbeat" of AI data centre in Beijing
New York-based creative studio Visions2030 has created a trio of domes installed at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, where visitors fabricate a vision of the future via a series of AI prompts. More about Visions2030 installation in Brazil prompts visitors to "imagine hopeful solutions" with AI
Chinese company Even Realities has launched its latest AI smart glasses, the Even G2s, offering advanced functionality such as real-time conversation enhancement while avoiding the controversial technology of an outward-facing camera. More about Even Realities launches Even G2 smart glasses with camera-free AI functionality
A therapeutic keyboard for people with Parkinson's and an AI-powered water quality sensor have won this year's James Dyson Award, recognising the best inventions by students and graduates from across the world. More about Gaming-inspired Parkinson's keyboard wins 2025 James Dyson Award
Front's Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren are exploring whether AI could replace the designer. In this interview, the Swedish duo explain how curiosity helps them stay ahead of the curve. More about AI questions "what other qualities we have as designers" say Front founders
Designers have emerged as the group most sceptical towards artificial intelligence in an attitudes survey of UK creative professionals, with four in five saying that the technology undermines originality. More about Designers most likely among creatives to believe AI dulls creativity
An AI model is infused with the socialist ideals of William Morris and operated by pressing the treadle of a vintage foot-powered sewing machine in this project by recent Central Saint Martins graduate Max Park. More about William Morris-inspired AI is powered by an old treadle sewing machine
Emory University scientist Roxana Chicas has collaborated with the Georgia Institute of Technology to create a wearable biopatch for outdoor workers to monitor and protect their health. More about Roxana Chicas designs wearable patch for early detection of heat exposure
Austin-based startup Blackdot has developed an AI-powered tattoo device it says is faster, safer, and less painful than a human-made tattoo. More about Blackdot's AI-powered tattoo device promises to make tattoos faster and less painful
Technology company Meta has added to its Ray-Ban smart glasses series with the Meta Ray-Ban Display – its first pair to combine AI and augmented reality. More about Meta launches first AI smart glasses with integrated display
Two MIT students have developed a prototype for a 3D printer that uses artificial intelligence to transform food waste into objects such as cup holders and small containers. More about MIT students developing 3D printer that turns food waste into household objects
The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features a kitchen robot that uses AI to generate recipes. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now. More about Dezeen Agenda features AI appliance that generates recipes based on leftovers
Students from MIT have developed a retrofuturistic kitchen robot that uses AI to look at the ingredients available and makes suggestions for what to cook based on your mood, skill level and available time. More about Kitchen Cosmo is a "playful and intentional" AI appliance that generates recipes based on leftovers
Technology firm Botronics has developed an autonomous AI-powered golf trolley that acts like a personal caddie, trailing players from hole to hole, providing tips on club selection and recording data to help improve their game. More about "World's first" self-driving golf trolley follows players around the course
Chinese tech company iKKO has attempted to subvert the norms for large smartphones with MindOne – a device that is not only small but has a single flippable camera and two operating systems, one primarily AI-focused. More about iKKO attempts to reinvent the smartphone with AI-led MindOne
AI marketing studio Seraphinne Vallora made headlines with its controversial AI model campaign in Vogue. In this interview, co-founder Andreea Petrescu tells Dezeen how she learnt the power of attention-grabbing images while working at Foster + Partners. More about Architects "are the ones who discovered the power" of AI imaging says Seraphinne Vallora co-founder Andreea Petrescu
Pedestrians are walking 15 per cent faster and stopping to linger 14 per cent less than they used to, according to a study from MIT's Senseable City Lab that hopes to guide the design of public spaces. More about MIT finds people walking faster and lingering less in public space