Digital Lifescapes

Commercial interest in Generative AI (GenAI) tools has reached a fever pitch, and the latest forecast from Gartner amplifies this emerging trend. Gartner predicts $644 billion in worldwide spending on GenAI in 2025, marking a dramatic 76.4 percent increase from the previous year. This surge underscores the impact GenAI will have across industries. It also requires a closer examination of the underlying dynamics of future potential. Generative AI Market Development This growth is fueled by the GenAI foundational model providers who invest billions into enhancing the size, performance, and reliability of their models.  Hardware also accounts for a significant portion of this spending, with ~80 percent allocated to servers, smartphones, and PCs equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities. This highlights the critical need for computational power to support the demanding workloads of GenAI. However, Gartner also injects a dose of reality into the GenAI hype cycle. There's a dec...

As international travel rebounds to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, the mobile communication roaming market is at an inflection point. Emerging technologies and changing customer preferences are challenging traditional wholesale roaming agreements between mobile network operators (MNOs). The global wholesale roaming market is projected to more than double, from $9 billion in 2024 to $20 billion by 2028. This surge will be fueled by the expanding deployment of 5G Standalone (SA) technology, which enables real-time roaming connections and activity monitoring. But beneath this headline figure lies a complex landscape of regional variations and technological mobile service disruptions. Global Mobile Roaming Market Development Western Europe dominates inbound roaming connections, largely thanks to its Roam Like at Home (RLAH) initiative, which eliminates roaming charges among member countries.  Meanwhile, the Indian Subcontinent is emerging as a growth hotspot. Between 2024 and 2029, inbou...

The personal computing device market continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite recent fluctuations. According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), global PC shipments are projected to reach 273 million units in 2025—a modest but significant 3.7 percent increase over the previous year. This growth reflects the market's adaptation to post-pandemic realities and evolving technology needs across the globe. Personal Computing Market Development While COVID-19 initially triggered unprecedented demand for computing devices during the shift to remote work and online education, we now see a more measured growth pattern. IDC has slightly adjusted its projections downward, indicating a market growing steadily rather than explosively. "In light of so many challenges around the world, Japan is a much-needed source of double-digit growth this year. Enterprises there as well as SMBs have been quickly replacing PCs in advance of the Window...

The global Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) and Direct-to-Cell (D2C) markets are poised for growth, driven by unprecedented collaboration between technology giants, satellite operators, and mobile network operators (MNOs). According to the latest worldwide market study, these sectors will collectively generate over $25 billion in revenue by 2035, reshaping connectivity paradigms. This convergence represents a strategic response to the escalating demand for ubiquitous, low-latency wireless connectivity across industries and geographies. Global Connectivity Market Development    The NTN market (encompassing satellite, airborne, and maritime connectivity) and D2C services are converging to create hybrid infrastructure models. By 2035, NTN services alone will account for $15 billion of the total revenue, driven by applications in IoT, emergency communications, and rural broadband. D2C apps enabling satellite-to-smartphone connectivity will grow at 32 percent CAGR to $10 billion by 20...

In an era where AI is considered an asset for superior leadership, why are over a quarter of marketing organizations still hesitant to use Generative AI ( GenAI ) in their workflows? Recent findings from a Gartner survey reveal a nuanced picture of GenAI adoption in marketing. They highlight its potential and the challenges organizations encounter. The Current State of GenAI Adoption The Gartner survey provides a snapshot of GenAI's integration into marketing strategies. Surprisingly, 27 percent of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) report limited or no adoption of GenAI in their marketing campaigns. This statistic is particularly striking given the interest surrounding AI in the typical C-suite, suggesting a significant gap between executive desire and marketing implementation. Despite this, the survey also reveals encouraging signs of GenAI's impact: 47 percent of forward-thinking organizations report substantial benefits from adopting GenAI for evaluation and reporting in their...

The typical customer engagement model is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by the convergence of Conversational AI, Generative AI  (GenAI), and an emerging technology called Agentic AI. As business leaders seek to automate and enhance their customer interactions, these technologies are creating new possibilities for more natural, contextual, and efficient communication at scale. The numbers tell a compelling story. According to Juniper Research's latest analysis, the conversational AI market is poised for substantial growth. Revenue is projected to surge from $14.6 billion in 2025 to over $23 billion by 2027. Artificial Intelligence Market Development The vendors in this industry are expected to generate a remarkable $57 billion globally over the next three years. This growth reflects the increasing enterprise adoption of AI-powered communication solutions across various sectors. What's particularly interesting is the regional distribution of this market. The Far Ea...

While the 2025 economic outlook is uncertain, one thing is clear. The global technology sector continues to produce remarkable resilience and growth, defying earlier concerns about headwinds.  Forrester's latest worldwide market forecast reveals an acceleration in technology spending, projecting it to reach $4.9 trillion this year – a 5.6 percent increase from 2024's $4.7 trillion. This investment surge signals a fundamental shift in how business leaders across the globe are approaching their digital transformation journeys. Global IT Market Development    The magnitude of this spending becomes even more striking when we examine its composition. Software and IT services are poised to command two-thirds of global technology investments in 2025, highlighting the central role of digital capabilities in modern business operations. The software sector, in particular, stands out with its projected 10.5 percent growth rate, positioning it to capture an impressive 60 percent of g...

The global Information Technology (IT) distribution sector has long been a barometer for the broader IT industry's health, reflecting shifts in end-user demand, enterprise investment, and technological innovation. Recent data from IDC research indicates a notable resurgence in this space, with fourth-quarter revenues returning to growth, driven predominantly by personal computing and software expenditures. IT Distribution Market Development The global distribution sector has experienced a significant uptick in customer investments. This resurgence underscores the demand for PCs, laptops, and related software solutions, even where mobile devices have become ubiquitous. Personal Computing returned to normal distributor revenue levels in 2024 after a significant contraction in 2023. The $3.75 billion in sales recorded in Q4 continues to be fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) PC configurations, which grew 141 percent year-over-year. The data suggests that businesses continue to inve...

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperscale cloud computing is fundamentally reshaping data center infrastructure, and liquid cooling is emerging as an indispensable solution. As traditional air-cooled systems reach their physical limits, the IT industry is under pressure to adopt more efficient thermal management strategies to meet growing demands, while complying with stringent environmental regulations. Liquid Cooling Market Development The latest ABI Research analysis reveals momentum in liquid cooling adoption. Installations are forecast to quadruple between 2023 and 2030. The market will reach $3.7 billion in value by the decade's end, with a CAGR of 22 percent. The urgency behind these numbers becomes clear when examining energy metrics: liquid cooling systems demonstrate 40 percent greater energy efficiency when compared to conventional air-cooling architectures, while simultaneously enabling ~300-500 percent increases in computational density per rac...

Has your IT plan prepared for the Generative AI  (GenAI) strategic transformation imperative? On the cusp of a transformative year in business technology, this question for CIOs is top-of-mind for a forward-looking C-suite with IT investment decisions. The latest Gartner study on worldwide IT spending trends provides guidance into the direction and scale of this strategic shift in the market's trajectory. Enterprise IT Market Development Gartner's latest forecast reveals a remarkable 9.8 percent increase in worldwide IT spending for 2025, projecting a total investment of $5.61 trillion. This substantial growth rate signifies a recovery and expansion in the tech sector, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and indicating a strong appetite for investment across industries. The projected increase is a testament to technology's critical role in modern business operations and strategies. Savvy executives recognize the imperative to invest in IT infrastructure, software, and cloud serv...

Two years after ChatGPT captured the world's imagination, there's a dichotomy in the enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market. On one side, technology vendors are making unprecedented investments in AI infrastructure and new feature capabilities. On the other, there's measured adoption from customers who carefully weigh the AI costs and proven use case benefits. Artificial Intelligence Market Development The scale of new investment is significant. Cloud vendors alone were expected to invest over $150 billion in capital expenditures in 2024, with AI infrastructure being the primary driver. This massive bet on AI's future is reflected in the rapid growth of AI server revenue. Looking at just two major players - Dell Technologies and HPE - their combined AI server revenue surged from $1.2 billion in Q4 2023 to $4.4 billion in Q3 2024, highlighting the dramatic expansion. Yet despite these investments, the revenue returns remain relatively modest. The latest TBR resea...

The global financial services marketplace is transforming, driven by the meteoric adoption of digital wallets. What began as a convenient way to store payment cards on smartphones has evolved into an ecosystem reshaping how billions of people manage money. According to Juniper Research's latest worldwide market study, digital wallet adoption is about to rise again, with user numbers projected to surge from 4.3 billion in 2024 to 5.8 billion by 2029. This growth trajectory is about fundamental changes in how we access financial services. The most compelling Fintech transformation is happening in developing markets, where 'Mobile Money' solutions are bypassing traditional banking infrastructure entirely. Digital Wallet Market Development In regions with large unbanked populations, digital wallets have become the first point of entry into the formal financial system, allowing people to store, spend, and transfer money without needing a traditional bank account. The market has ...

The semiconductor industry is poised for a significant resurgence in 2025, with artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) as the primary catalysts for growth. According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), the semiconductor market is expected to experience 15 percent growth in 2025, largely propelled by the increasing demand for AI and HPC applications. This surge is not merely a continuation of existing growth trends but represents a paradigm shift in the industry's dynamics. Global Semiconductor Market Development One of the most striking statistics from the IDC study is the projected 24 percent growth in the memory segment. This exceptional increase is primarily attributed to the rising adoption of high-end products such as HBM3 and HBM3e, which are essential components for AI accelerators. The anticipated introduction of HBM4 in the latter half of 2025 is expected to further fuel this ongoing growth trajectory. Me...

As we approach 2025, the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is poised for significant growth. Traditional AI spending is rising, while Generative AI (GenAI) struggles to meet lofty expectations. This apparent dichotomy presents challenges and opportunities for vendors and business leaders navigating the complex world of AI implementation. Let's explore the overall situation. Traditional AI: A Pragmatic Approach In the coming year, we expect to see a surge in traditional AI spending as enterprises seek pragmatic, ROI-driven solutions. This trend is driven by a growing recognition of the limitations and risks associated with GenAI projects, which have shown alarmingly high failure rates of 80 to 90 percent in proof-of-concept stages. The trend towards traditional AI is further supported by data from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which revealed that over 85 percent of AI projects in 2024 were not based on GenAI.  This insightful statistic underscores the continued relevance and ...

I've been monitoring research about the evolution of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) applications in Customer Care channels. Gartner predicts that 30 percent of Fortune 500 companies will offer service through only a single AI-enabled channel by 2028. That's very insightful. This forecast underscores a shift in how large enterprises approach customer care. The move towards consolidating service offerings into a single, AI-powered channel represents a dramatic departure from the multi-channel approach of the past. It's a bold prediction that could reshape the implementation of existing customer support processes and global frontline corporate business operations. Key AI Market Development Insights The headline statistic is particularly striking. This suggests a high level of confidence in AI capabilities and a willingness to fundamentally restructure traditional service delivery models. Gartner predicts that by 2026, conversational AI deployments within contact c...

How we verify and protect our online identities is undergoing a notable transformation. Digital identity (ID) verification has emerged as a decisive technology, bridging the gap between security and user experience across multiple industry sectors. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and government regulations grow more complex, organizations are turning to solutions that can provide robust authentication while maintaining a frictionless user experience. Digital ID Verification Market Development The digital identity verification market is experiencing remarkable growth. Juniper Research forecasts a 74 percent increase in spending, from $15.2 billion in 2024 to $26.4 billion by 2029. This significant market expansion is driven by several key advances that are reshaping our thinking about online human identity authentication. Three technologies stand out as particularly promising in enhancing the digital ID verification experience. Facial recognition has evolved from a simple mat...

The growth trajectory of artificial intelligence (AI) enterprise applications continues to accelerate, and its impact on global IT infrastructure spending is also remarkable. The recent market study by International Data Corporation (IDC) provides compelling evidence of AI's explosive growth and implications for the Global Networked Economy . By 2028, global investment in AI infrastructure is projected to surpass the $100 billion mark, underscoring the technology's pivotal role in shaping the future of business and society. Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Market Development This growth is not a sudden phenomenon but rather the result of sustained investment over time. The AI infrastructure market has experienced double-digit growth for nine consecutive half-years, with no signs of slowing down. In the first half of 2024 alone, organizations increased their spending on compute and storage hardware infrastructure for AI deployments by 37 percent year-over-year, reaching an...

We're in a new era of digital transformation. The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the IT data center. However, this progress comes with a significant challenge: the escalating energy demands. The cooling requirements for these digital powerhouses are skyrocketing, presenting a critical conundrum for the IT industry and global environmental sustainability efforts alike. As the AI computing power intensifies, these facilities generate more heat. This heat isn't just a byproduct; it's a threat to the performance, stability, and longevity of AI platforms. AI Data Center Market Development According to a recent study by ABI Research, the global data center market is set for explosive growth. The number of data centers worldwide is expected to more than double from 10,978 in 2023 to over 22,000 by 2030. In 2023, data center operators consumed 300 TWh of energy solely for cooling purposes. Even more alarming is the projection that this figure will tr...