Wallet Apps

Governments are accelerating the rollout of digital wallet apps, with Alberta Wallet and BC Wallet enabling citizens to securely store and present official IDs, permits, and credentials on their phones. These initiatives reflect a broader shift toward verifiable digital credentials that can be shared across services and jurisdictions.

While these innovations promise frictionless access and stronger fraud protection, they also raise new questions: Who governs identity data? Can these systems interoperate across borders and devices? And how do we preserve privacy when credentials are linked to centralized platforms?

The next frontier of digital identity will hinge not on technology alone, but on trust, ensuring that convenience doesn’t come at the expense of autonomy, transparency, or inclusion.

This transformation isn’t limited to Canada. Iceland’s digital driver’s license is available to anyone who has earned the right to drive, while the California DMV Wallet and U.S. TSA digital ID pilots are testing mobile driver’s licenses for airport screening. As the BBC recently reported, digital IDs, from driver’s licenses to national credentials, are “popping up everywhere,” reshaping how identity is managed in both the public and private sectors.

Quantum Computing & Post-Quantum Security

As quantum capabilities advance, so do fears of quantum hackers breaking today’s encryption. Organizations are starting to explore post-quantum cryptography standards and testing resilience, ensuring that sensitive data will remain secure in a post-quantum world.

SaaS Sprawl & Subscription Creep

Customers are feeling the weight of too many Software as a Service (SaaS) tools and subscription costs. In response, businesses are offering bundled platforms and usage-based pricing, competing on value and retention instead of sheer feature count.

AI Agents

AI is moving beyond chatbots into autonomous AI agents that can plan, decide, and act across multiple tools on behalf of users. From scheduling meetings to triaging support tickets to conducting research, agents reduce manual handoffs and unlock leverage. The next challenge is trust, and companies must set clear guardrails to ensure AI stays aligned with intent.

Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere

More apps and websites are mandating MFA at login, whether via text, email, or trusted devices. This extra layer of security is becoming the norm, balancing convenience with stronger protection against account takeovers and phishing attacks.

Passkeys

The move beyond passwords is gaining momentum. Passkeys which are cryptographic logins tied to devices have emerged as a safer, simpler replacement for passwords and even MFA. With initiatives like the FIDO Alliance’s Passkey Pledge and World Passkey Day, adoption is accelerating across major platforms.

Capital Efficiency > Growth at All Costs

With venture funding tightening, startups are prioritizing capital efficiency. Disciplined scaling, durable margins, and recurring revenue quality are the new north stars, replacing the old obsession with top-line growth.

Scaling Through Leverage, Not Headcount

AI tools now enable small, highly skilled teams to achieve what once required entire departments. Instead of adding people, companies scale by multiplying output per employee, letting humans focus on high-value decisions while AI handles repetitive or mechanical tasks.

Vibe Coding

A new approach to software development, vibe coding lets developers express intent in natural language, with AI generating and refining code. While not yet production-grade, it’s invaluable for MVPs, proofs of concept, and experiments, lowering the cost of testing ideas before full engineering investment.

Hybrid Work Settles In

The ‘remote vs. office’ debate is mostly over, as hybrid work is now the default. Companies are investing in asynchronous tools, digital-first collaboration practices, and flexible policies to attract talent while trimming real estate costs.

The through line in all of this is simple: people want tools they can trust. Whether it’s how we verify identity, how we protect data, or how we work with AI, the next era belongs to technologies that remove complexity and give users more control.