Seven Acquisitions That Could Happen in 2025

As we wrapped up our generative AI takeover list and our fifth annual most promising startups list, I got to thinking: how many of the companies will still be independent a year from now?

Already, this year has seen a flurry of acquisitions and quasi-acquisitions as startups look for a safe haven in the arms of larger tech companies. And there are likely more such deals to come—bankers tell me that many potential acquirers and targets are waiting for the results of next week’s presidential elections to suss out what the antitrust regulatory environment might look like before beginning deal talks.

When we think about what AI deals might make the most sense for next year, there are a couple likely takeover candidates that we’ve written at length about, such as embattled AI wearable-device maker Humane and Stability AI, which now develops AI image and video technology aimed at Hollywood. But here are theoretical pairings you might not have thought about: