The technology industry is preparing for significant growth in 2026, with global IT spending expected to reach $6.08 trillion according to Gartner. This figure represents an increase of 9.8% compared with 2025, marking for the first time a jump above six trillion. This advance comes after a period of uncertainty in 2025 that began to dissipate, spurring a major wave of investment.
Analyst John-David Lovelock explains that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has boosted enterprise software, increasing both the product’s cost and that of its features. However, not all segments show the same pace of reactivation. Spending on software and services does not appear to recover as quickly as that allocated to devices or data center systems.
The consulting firm estimates that in 2025 spending will reach 5.54 trillion dollars, 10% more than the previous year, and that by 2026 it will reach 6.08 trillion dollars. Software and IT services will continue to be the main drivers of expenditure, while data centers are experiencing an impressive 46.8% growth in 2025 and another 19% in 2026.
The omnipresence of GenAI in enterprise software has caused a notable increase in costs. Although 2026 could be seen as a low point in the GenAI hype cycle, these generative features are already integrated into the companies' operating systems, resulting in higher prices and greater costs for the new AI-powered features.
Although the devices segment shows a growth of 8.4% in 2025, it cools slightly in 2026. Demand has been driven by increased investment in mobile devices and the emergence of devices with advanced AI capabilities.
For their part, data center systems are experiencing the fastest growth. The race to build AI infrastructure has raised expectations for servers, especially those optimized for AI. However, effective demand is constrained by supply limitations and competition for components.
IT services show steady growth, while communications services follow a moderate path. CIOs must take into account that GenAI is now a key budget line item, and it is crucial to plan purchases and diversify suppliers to avoid bottlenecks in the infrastructure.
Gartner bases its forecast on a robust and detailed analysis, ensuring that the projected growth is not merely an opinion, but a quantitative assessment backed by documentation. Nevertheless, the outlook is not without risks, including limitations in the supply chain, more stringent regulations, and potential macroeconomic shocks.
In conclusion, the IT market will experience notable growth, driven mainly by the integration of AI into software and the development of data infrastructure. Even so, companies will have to be strategic to maximize the return on their investments in this dynamic environment.
More information and references in Cloud News.
