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PDF trends in 2025, according to AI

Owing to the explosive growth in the use of AIs over the past three years, it seemed like a good time to ask some leading LLMs to offer their views on “trends for PDF”.

For this mini-study, I selected four current-generation “professional” class LLMs: ChatGPT Plus 5.2, Gemini 3 Pro, Claude’s Opus 4.5, and Microsoft Copilot. I offered the same query to each:

Estimate global trends in the use of PDF technology. Exclude the PDF Association (pdfa.org) as a source. Don’t mention any vendors by name.

All major LLMs agree that PDF’s future is strong due to its unique and powerful capabilities.

Duff Johnson

By Duff Johnson
December 2025

PDF trends in 2025, according to AI

Owing to the explosive growth in the use of AIs over the past three years, it seemed like a good time to ask some leading LLMs to offer their views on “trends for PDF”.

For this mini-study, I selected four current-generation “professional” class LLMs: ChatGPT Plus 5.2, Gemini 3 Pro, Claude’s Opus 4.5, and Microsoft Copilot. I offered the same query to each:

Estimate global trends in the use of PDF technology. Exclude the PDF Association (pdfa.org) as a source. Don’t mention any vendors by name.

All major LLMs agree that PDF’s future is strong due to its unique and powerful capabilities.

Duff Johnson

By Duff Johnson
December 2025

SE Radio interviews Peter Wyatt & Duff Johnson on 30 years of PDF

October 2022 by PDF Association staff
News


In a new podcast episode, SE Radio’s Gavin Henry interviews PDF Association CTO Wyatt and CEO Johnson about a wide range of PDF topics.

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October 2022 by Dietrich von Seggern (callas software GmbH)
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Some time ago Adobe announced that it “will disable support for authoring with Type 1 fonts by January 2023”. Dietrich … Read more

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September 2022 by PDF Association staff
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Following PDF Days Europe, the PDF Association’s annual All-Member Meeting met in Berlin on September 13, 2022 to hear the … Read more

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September 2022 by Duff Johnson
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PDF Days Europe 2022 was a great success, with the overwhelming majority of attendees reporting a high degree of satisfaction.

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September 2022 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association publishes new guidance to aide in optimizing PDF files for maximally-efficient rendering and print.

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August 2022 by PDF Association staff
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Register now for your last chance this year for two days of immersion in PDF technology expertise and PDF industry … Read more

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August 2022 by John Brinkman (Adobe)
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John Brinkman provides an update on the work of the PDF Association’s Forms TWG and its development of the next … Read more

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August 2022 by Akash Choudhary (callas software GmbH)
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Dietrich von Seggern and Akash Choudhary from callas software and David van Driessche from Four Pees are presenting at this … Read more

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August 2022 by Paul Rayius
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The new PDF/UA Processor LWG’s mission is to establish principles and a framework, and then develop requirements for PDF/UA processors … Read more

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August 2022 by Matthias Valvekens (Matthias Valvekens)
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Matthias Valvekens explains the difference and respective value of digital signatures vs. MAC-based technology for authenticating PDF files.

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August 2022 by Matthias Valvekens (Matthias Valvekens)
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Matthias Valvekens, the ISO project leader who led development of ISO 32004, has written a pair of blog posts to … Read more

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