Five startups offering a unique vision of the future

While social media feeds obsess over the latest Gen AI party tricks, a quiet revolution is taking shape that will have a deeper impact on the fabric of society. On construction sites and inside satellites, doctors' offices and developing economies, artificial intelligence is moving beyond the digital realm to tackle humanity's most intractable problems. 

The finalists of 4YFN25 paint a radically different picture of AI's future. By 2028, they suggest, we won't be talking about AI at all. Instead, we'll be living in a world where synthetic intelligence is woven invisibly into our lives, breaking down barriers that have existed for generations. 

Their vision isn't about replacing humans – it's about extending our capabilities and solving problems we've never been able to before. Here's how they're building that future today. 

From digital to physical 

By 2028, AI will move beyond purely digital applications to tackle tangible, physical-world problems. London's Qflow exemplifies this shift, using AI to transform construction – one of the world's most physical industries. 

“Construction consumes 40% of the world's raw resources and generates 40% of global waste to landfill,” explains CEO Brittany Harris. Through AI-powered analysis of photographed receipts, Qflow has already helped 200+ projects avoid 9.7 million kg of CO2e and 31,000 tonnes of waste. This signals a future where AI directly impacts our physical environment, not just our digital lives. 

Taking this physical-world integration even further, Israel's Ramon.Space is pushing AI into the harshest environment of all – outer space. Their computing systems are transforming satellites from orbital platforms into intelligent, autonomous units. As CEO Avi Shabtai explains: “Our mission is to equip satellites with cutting-edge onboard computing systems capable of delivering advanced space services and applications that were once unimaginable.” 

From exclusive to accessible health 

Another key shift by 2028 will be AI's role in democratising access to expert-level medical services. With subclinical atherosclerosis affecting up to 60% of seemingly low-risk individuals, Spain's Horus ML have pioneered products that bring specialist cardiovascular diagnosis capabilities to primary care settings. 

“We develop solutions that help clinicians through automatic clinical image analysis, early diagnosis, personalised medicine and remote monitoring of chronic patients,” says Jesús Prada Alonso, Co-founder & CEO. “Our product is an innovative technological tool, called AItheroscope, which integrates optical devices and artificial intelligence models for the early detection of atherosclerosis.” 

By embedding this expert knowledge into AI systems, they're making advanced diagnostics available beyond specialist centres, potentially transforming detection of heart disease and saving exponential lives in the process. 

From data barriers to data bridges

By 2028, organisations will be sitting on mountains of valuable data that could transform everything from business efficiency to scientific research. But there's a paradox: the more data we collect, the greater the privacy risks in sharing it. This tension threatens to bottleneck innovation just when we need it most.  

US-based Rockfish Data is tackling this challenge through their synthetic data platform. Unlike traditional approaches, their system adapts to specific data needs while maintaining privacy and security. 

“Competing solutions are simply model hosting as a service,” explains Dr Muckai Girish, Co-founder & CEO. “They do not adapt to the data or the requirements and require significant heavy lift from the user. Rockfish Data is the industry’s first outcome-centric generative data generation platform that helps telecom companies unlock the true value of their data.” 

Based upon foundational innovation and research at Carnegie Mellon University, this signals a future where data can flow more freely between organisations while remaining secure, helping enterprises unlock the full value of their information without compromising privacy. 

From financial exclusion to AI-powered inclusion

AI will also help break down long-standing barriers to essential services. Colombia's Bankuish demonstrates how AI can transform financial inclusion by 2028, using alternative data to assess creditworthiness for the traditionally unbanked. 

“70% of Latin Americans are considered unbanked or underbanked,” notes José Fernández, CEO & Founder. “Without access to affordable banking, people often find themselves turning to predatory lenders...which feeds a cycle of poverty. Our platform allows users to leverage their work history to prove their creditworthiness and access pre-approved loans and other financial services.”  

By using AI to analyse gig economy data, they're creating new options for millions. And the implications stretch far beyond Latin America. As digital platforms become the primary source of work for many globally, AI-powered financial inclusion could help break toxic patterns and forge new paths to prosperity for the next generation of workers. 

The road to 2028 

Our finalists show that AI's future isn't just about better algorithms – it's about better lives. They demonstrate how it is evolving from a purely technical tool into a transformative force for tackling humanity's biggest challenges. Soon we'll see AI XL-powered solutions seamlessly integrated into every industry, making previously exclusive services widely accessible, bridging long-standing divides, and helping build a more sustainable and inclusive world. 

Join us at 4YFN25 to meet these visionaries and discover how they're scaling AI from breakthrough technology to global impact. Register at 4YFN