In 2025, the AV industry has moved decisively beyond traditional hardware deployment. AV systems are now designed as intelligent, network-integrated platforms focused on performance, security, scalability, and user experience.

Below are the most impactful technical and operational shifts observed this year:

🔹 AV over IP as the Primary Architecture 

AV over IP has transitioned from an alternative to the default system topology for enterprise, education, command & control, and large-scale venues.

Key drivers include:

• Native compatibility with standard IT infrastructure (Layer 2/3 networks).

• Improved scalability without fixed matrix limitations.

• Support for multicast, redundancy, and distributed architectures.

• Vendor maturity across SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, Dante, and proprietary AV-over-IP platforms.

System design now increasingly aligns with IT governance, network policies, and lifecycle management models.

🔹 AI Integration Within AV Systems.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a “feature add-on” but a functional layer embedded in AV ecosystems.

Practical applications include:

• AI-driven camera framing, speaker tracking, and auto-switching.

• Intelligent audio mixing with voice prioritization.

• Predictive fault detection and system health monitoring.

• Usage analytics for space optimization and performance tuning.

These capabilities reduce manual configuration, improve consistency, and enable data-driven AV operations.

🔹 Evolution of Smart Meeting and Collaboration Spaces .

Meeting rooms are increasingly designed as self-managing environments rather than static installations.

Core characteristics now include:

• Occupancy detection and presence-based system activation.

• Automated room configuration based on meeting type.

• Deep UC platform integration (Teams, Zoom, Webex).

• Touchless or zero-training user interfaces

• Centralized monitoring and remote support capabilities

User experience and reliability are now key acceptance criteria, not afterthought.

🔹 Audio Performance as a Primary Design Constraint .

Audio is now recognized as the most critical success factor in AV system performance.

Technical emphasis has shifted toward:

• Speech intelligibility (STI, CIS, and reverberation control).

• Beam-steering and beam-forming loudspeaker technologies.

• Advanced acoustic modeling and simulation (EASE, EASE Focus).

• Adaptive DSP tuning responding to room conditions and occupancy.

Poor audio is no longer tolerated, even in visually advanced spaces.

🔹 Cybersecurity Embedded in AV Design 

AV systems are now fully classified as network-connected IT assets.

Design requirements increasingly include:

• Secure firmware and controlled update mechanisms.

• Network segmentation, VLANs, and access control.

• Compliance with enterprise cybersecurity frameworks.

• Role-based access and audit logging.

Cybersecurity considerations are now influencing vendor selection, system architecture, and commissioning procedures.

🔹 Sustainability and Lifecycle Optimization .

Sustainability has become both a technical and commercial consideration.

Key trends include:

• Energy-efficient hardware and power management strategies.

• Remote diagnostics reducing on-site interventions.

• Longer product lifecycles and modular upgrade paths.

• Sustainability metrics influencing procurement and design approvals.

AV design is now closely aligned with smart building and ESG objectives.

🔹Industry Direction:

The AV industry in 2025 is increasingly:

• Software-driven.

• Network-centric.

• Data-aware.

• Experience-focused.

AV professionals are now expected to operate at the intersection of IT, cybersecurity, acoustics, UX design, and system engineering.

❓ Which of these developments had the greatest impact on your AV projects in 2025?

Are there other technical trends you believe are shaping the future of Pro AV that deserve more attention?

👇 Share your perspective.