Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) has released its inaugural 2026 Data Infrastructure Readiness Report, examining how organizations across global markets are preparing their data infrastructure for the next phase of AI adoption.
The report, based on independent research by Recon Analytics among 2,712 enterprise technology decision-makers across seven markets, finds that 99% expect AI to increase storage requirements over the next three years, while only 38% believe they are fully prepared to meet those demands.
The research also found that 86% of organizations report moderate or significant returns on AI investments, including 33% reporting significant measurable ROI. Data quality and readiness (53%) and storage infrastructure (43%) emerged as the leading challenges to deploying AI.
Nearly all respondents (98%) agree that AI is transforming storage into strategic business infrastructure. At the same time, 76% rank data centre investment among their top three infrastructure priorities.
“AI is reshaping the way organizations plan, build and operate infrastructure,” said Melyssa Banda, Senior Vice President, Edge Storage Business at Seagate Technology. “As data volumes grow, so does the value organizations can derive from the data. They need data infrastructure that helps them preserve, access and use more of that data over time. Sustainable Scaling is about making those infrastructure decisions more efficient, more durable and more connected to long-term data value.”
Sustainability is also influencing infrastructure decisions. The report found that 97% believe extending infrastructure lifecycles significantly improves sustainability, while 77% have delayed or restructured AI infrastructure expansion due to sustainability or energy concerns.
Banda added, “The next phase of AI will require capacity growth, but capacity alone will not be enough. It will be defined by smarter infrastructure decisions on how effectively organizations scale, organize, retain and use the data that AI depends on. The companies that create lasting value from AI will be the ones that treat data infrastructure as a business strategy.”
