Gartner has named the 6 key IT trends that will shape infrastructure development in 2026

According to Gartner Vice President and Analyst Jeffrey Hewitt, I&O leaders should consider all six trends and prepare to respond to those that will have the greatest impact on their organizations. This will enable companies to adapt faster than competitors and effectively implement innovations.

Hybrid Computing

The first trend is hybrid computing. This is a new approach that combines different, sometimes incompatible, computing, storage, and data transmission mechanisms into a single system. Such an architecture allows companies to use multiple types of infrastructure simultaneously without being tied to a single vendor or technology.

Hybrid computing helps I&O leaders create a more flexible and scalable computing infrastructure for the long term. This approach enables the combination of the strengths of different technologies and maximizes the efficiency of investments in new developments without abandoning existing systems.

Agentic Artificial Intelligence

The second trend is agentic artificial intelligence. This technology is among the top three priorities for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and is considered one of the most promising areas of AI development. Agentic AI can independently analyze complex data sets, identify patterns, and make decisions without constant human intervention.

For I&O leaders, this opens up significant opportunities, primarily through time savings. As these systems evolve, the impact of implementing agentic AI will only increase, as the technology will take on more routine and analytical tasks, freeing up team resources for more complex projects.

Artificial Intelligence Management Platforms

The third trend relates to artificial intelligence management platforms. AI management involves the process of creating policies, allocating areas of responsibility, and ensuring organizational accountability for risks and decisions related to the use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Such platforms help companies control and manage AI systems by implementing principles of responsible technology use. They also mitigate potential business risks, including algorithmic bias, lack of decision transparency, data protection and privacy issues, as well as model evaluation and validation concerns.

Energy-Efficient Computing

The fourth trend is energy-efficient computing, which is an extension of the hybrid computing concept. It refers to a set of technologies and practices aimed at reducing energy consumption and the carbon footprint of IT systems without sacrificing performance.

Energy-efficient computing allows I&O leaders to significantly influence energy consumption and the company's environmental impact in a sustainable manner. For example, organizations can implement long-term strategies based on new and promising technologies, such as optical computing and neuromorphic systems, which consume significantly less energy compared to traditional solutions.

Disinformation Security

The fifth trend is disinformation security. This is a set of technologies that helps companies determine the level of trust in information, protect their brand, and ensure the security of their online presence. The category covers a wide range of solutions, including deepfake detection, impersonation prevention, and organizational reputation protection.

As the technological landscape evolves, disinformation security is becoming a necessary tool for I&O leaders, enabling them to ensure trust in communications, user identification, and brand reputation.

Geopatriation

The sixth trend is geopatriation, which involves shifting workloads and applications from global cloud providers to regional or national alternatives. The main driver of this shift is growing geopolitical uncertainty and the desire of states and companies to control their own technological infrastructure.

Geopatriation is a continuation of the earlier trend of conflict between nationalism and globalism, but it now extends far beyond simple data sovereignty. The trend affects operational and technical sovereignty, allowing I&O leaders to reduce geopolitical risks, comply with sovereignty requirements, and strengthen the independence of national economies.

Source: gartner.com