AI supercomputers, digital trust, and pre-emptive cybersecurity set to redefine the future.
Tech giants and industry leaders have been told to brace for a year of lightning-fast change, as analysts at Gartner unveiled their top strategic technology trends for 2026 — and it’s all about AI and security in a hyperconnected world.
Speaking at the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2025, experts warned that the pace of innovation is now moving faster than ever before.
“Technology leaders face a pivotal year in 2026, where disruption, innovation, and risk are expanding at unprecedented speed,” said Gene Alvarez, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. “The top strategic technology trends identified for 2026 are tightly interwoven and reflect the realities of an AI-powered, hyperconnected world where organizations must drive responsible innovation, operational excellence, and digital trust.”
Tori Paulman, VP Analyst at Gartner, added: “These trends represent more than technology shifts; they are catalysts for business transformation. What feels different this year is the pace. We’ve seen more innovations emerge in a single year than ever before. Because the next wave of innovation isn’t years away, organizations that act now will not only weather volatility but shape their industries for decades to come.”
AI Supercomputers Take Centre Stage
Top of the list is the rise of AI supercomputing platforms, which combine cutting-edge chips and software to crunch data at staggering speeds. Gartner says these systems will power breakthroughs in everything from drug discovery to financial modelling — and predicts that by 2028, over 40% of major enterprises will have adopted hybrid computing architectures, up from just 8% today.
“This capability is already driving innovation across a diverse range of industries,” said Paulman. “For example, in healthcare and biotech, companies are modeling new drugs in weeks instead of years. In financial services, organizations are simulating global markets to reduce portfolio risk, while utility providers are modeling extreme weather to optimize grid performance.”
AI Gets Team Spirit
Next up are multiagent systems — networks of AI “agents” that work together to solve complex problems. Alvarez said this approach could “automate complex business processes, upskill teams, and create new ways for people and AI agents to work together.”
Smarter AI for Every Industry
Domain-specific language models (DSLMs) are tailored systems that promise higher accuracy and better compliance for industries like healthcare, finance, and law. Gartner predicts that within three years, over half of enterprise AI models will be domain-specific.
“Context is emerging as one of the most critical differentiators for successful agent deployments,” said Paulman. “AI agents unpinned by DSLMs can interpret industry-specific context to make sound decisions even in unfamiliar scenarios.”
Locking Down AI
With AI spreading fast, AI security platforms are becoming a must-have. These tools keep rogue bots, data leaks, and prompt injection attacks in check. By 2028, Gartner expects more than half of all enterprises to use them to safeguard their AI investments.
Software Built by AI
The rise of AI-native development platforms means software could soon be built by tiny teams working hand-in-hand with AI. Gartner says that by 2030, 80% of companies will replace large developer teams with smaller, AI-augmented ones.
Keeping Data Safe
Confidential computing is changing how sensitive data is handled, securing information even from cloud providers themselves. Gartner reckons that by 2029, three-quarters of operations running on untrusted infrastructure will be protected this way.
Robots That Think
Physical AI — think drones, robots, and smart machines — is bringing artificial intelligence into the real world. But as automation spreads, experts warn that new skills and careful management will be crucial to avoid job disruption.
Fighting Hackers Before They Strike
Gartner says preemptive cybersecurity is the next big shift in digital defence. Instead of reacting to attacks, companies will use AI to predict and prevent them. “Preemptive cybersecurity is about acting before attackers strike using AI-powered SecOps, programmatic denial and deception,” said Paulman. “This is a world where prediction is protection.”
Trust in the Digital Age
As businesses rely more on third-party code and AI-generated content, digital provenance — verifying where software and data come from — is becoming essential. Gartner warns that firms that fail to invest in this could face sanctions worth billions by 2029.
Data Comes Home
Finally, geopatriation — moving data from global public clouds to local or sovereign ones — is on the rise as geopolitical tensions grow. “Shifting workloads to providers with an increased sovereignty posture can help CIOs gain more control over data residency, compliance and governance,” said Alvarez.
By 2030, Gartner predicts more than 75% of European and Middle Eastern enterprises will have moved their workloads to local solutions, up from less than 5% today.
From AI-powered supercomputers to digital trust and sovereignty, Gartner’s 2026 trends paint a picture of a world where technology, politics, and business are more intertwined than ever — and where those who move fast will define the future.
