AI Re-Accelerates, Security Operations Surge, Semis Cool
Welcome to Top Conversations in Tech, where we isolate the hottest trends, falling stars and shifting market dynamics to help technology marketers maximize their relevance. This month’s data reflects news and blog citations in September 2025 versus August 2025 and September 2024. We currently monitor 270+ topics, with data and insights going back to March 2019.
With #1 Artificial Intelligence up 14% month over month and operational layers—#97 Security Information & Event Management (+91%), #93 Security Operations Center (+38%), and #184 API Security (+30%)—leading gains, September’s conversation leaned toward scaling and safeguarding deployments. The throughline: enterprise audiences leaned into “how it runs” — securing systems, routing work, and tuning models.
AI Re-Accelerates, While Enterprise Layers Became Mixed
#1 Artificial Intelligence rose to 472K mentions (+14% MoM). Subtopics firmed: #52 Large Language Models increased 19% MoM and #22 Generative AI grew 4% MoM. #12 AI Agents advanced 11% MoM and held a higher placement (12 vs. 13 last month). Application layers were mixed: #53 Enterprise Software was essentially flat (−1% MoM; +62% YoY), #69 Process Automation added 7% MoM (+109% YoY), and #165 Robotic Process Automation declined 12% MoM.
Semiconductors Cool After August Rebound
#24 Semiconductors fell 12% MoM to 54.7K mentions and landed 51% below September 2024. After last month’s uptick, coverage normalized, and attention moved to adjacent infrastructure (e.g., #56 High Performance Computing at +27% MoM) and software-led efficiency angles rather than chip headlines.
Security Spikes at the Threat and Operations Layers
Security regained momentum at multiple levels. #8 Cybersecurity climbed 13% MoM, and #23 Cyber Attack surged 73% MoM. Operational controls also jumped: #97 Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) rose 91% MoM, #54 Security Operations/SecOps increased 35% MoM, #93 Security Operations Center (SOC) gained 38% MoM, and #184 API Security advanced 30% MoM. Identity signals were mixed: #182 Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) rose 12% MoM, while #183 Passkey fell 21% MoM.
Digital Transformation Stays Durable; ERP Edges Up
#6 Digital Transformation rose 21% MoM and 46% YoY, reinforcing modernization as a sustained enterprise theme. #50 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) ticked up 4% MoM and remains one of the strongest YoY growers (+412%). Together these moves signal continued interest in back-office readiness and systems consolidation even as some app categories fluctuate month to month.
Biggest Gains (MoM)
Operationalization led the month: #168 Answer Engine Optimization jumped 135%, #194 B2B Payments climbed 129%, #137 Development Security Operations/DevSecOpps increased 119%, and #199 Voice Technology advanced 114%; within security operations, #97 Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) rose 91% and #23 Cyber Attack coverage grew 73%, while #94 Content Moderation expanded 68%.
Biggest Losses (MoM)
Coverage shifted away from #193 Election Security, identity and authentication, and cloud applications: #193 Election Security fell 48%, #146 Location Tracking/Privacy declined 34%, and #156 Learning Management decreased 28%; in adjacent areas, #189 Cloud Applications and #78 Facial Recognition each dropped 23%, while #183 Passkey slipped 21%.
Top Takeaways
- AI momentum returned at the headline and model layers. #1 Artificial Intelligence (+14% MoM) and #52 Large Language Models (+19% MoM) rose together, while #12 AI Agents (+11% MoM) remained elevated. Application layers were mixed: #69 Process Automation increased (+7% MoM; +109% YoY) while #165 Robotic Process Automation decreased (−12% MoM).
- Operational security topics grew faster than broad categories. #97 Security Information & Event Management (+91% MoM), #54 Security Operations/SecOps (+35%), #93 Security Operations Center (+38%), and #23 Cyber Attack (+73% MoM) outpaced #8 Cybersecurity (+13% MoM); #183 Passkey declined (−21% MoM).
- Modernization stayed resilient. #6 Digital Transformation (+21% MoM; +46% YoY) and #50 Enterprise Resource Planning (+4% MoM; +412% YoY) remained strong while #24 Semiconductors decreased (−12% MoM; −51% YoY).
Looking Ahead
August closed with questions about whether #12 AI Agents would outpace broader narratives. Based on September results, #12 AI Agents outpaced #22 Generative AI (+11% vs +4%) and held a higher rank, but it trailed #1 Artificial Intelligence (+14%) and #52 Large Language Models (+19%). Key watch items for October include whether #12 AI Agents continue to climb alongside #52 Large Language Models; whether operational defenses — #97 Security Information & Event Management (SIEM), #54 Security Operations/SecOps, and #93 Security Operations Center (SOC) — hold share if headline #23 Cyber Attack stories recede; whether #50 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) sustains its exceptional YoY profile as planning cycles ramp; and whether #24 Semiconductors stabilize or continue to drift. Emerging discovery topics like #168 Answer Engine Optimization and payments infrastructure (#194 B2B Payments) also merit attention as organizations tune for real-world usage and revenue impact.
We’ll continue to track these shifts as planning cycles unfold—stay tuned!
Check out previous installments of Top Conversations in Tech here.
