Global IT spending to top $6 trillion in 2026, driven by AI infrastructure and devices
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Global IT spending could surpass $6 trillion for the first time in 2026, according to Gartner, which forecasts a 9.8% year-over-year increase. The increase is being fueled by ongoing investment in AI infrastructure and the rising costs of generative AI-enabled (GenAI) software and devices, the company reports.
For eeNews Europe readers, this growth points to market demand for next-generation data center systems, AI-optimized hardware, and intelligent device ecosystems that underpin innovation across the electronics industry.
GenAI costs and software inflation
Gartner’s latest forecast highlights how GenAI continues to reshape IT budgets. “The uncertainty pause that began in the second quarter of 2025 started to alleviate in the third quarter and a significant budget flush is anticipated before the end of the year,” noted John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. He added that GenAI functionality, now embedded across enterprise software, is inflating costs.
According to Lovelock, not all sectors are rebounding evenly. Software and services are recovering more slowly than devices and data center systems, with vertical-specific software particularly affected by policy shifts and business uncertainties.
AI devices and data center systems propel growth
Device spending continues to be a major driver, with Gartner projecting $783 billion in 2025, which is an 8.4% increase over 2024. The growth in 2025 is mainly driven by better-than-expected spending on mobile phones.
AI is boosting device sales now, but that surge could come at the expense of slower growth in 2026 because future demand is being met sooner. Meanwhile, the global race to build AI infrastructure is intensifying demand for high-performance, AI-optimized server and data center solutions.
Gartner’s forecasts are based on data from more than 1000 IT vendors, covering hardware, software, IT services, and telecommunications. These quarterly updates help technology decision-makers track emerging opportunities and anticipate spending trends. The full 3Q25 update of Gartner’s IT spending forecast is available in the Gartner Market Databook.
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