The biggest IT growth areas in 2024 according to Gartner

The research institute Gartner Inc. has published its research results for the most important growth areas in companies for 2024. It is apparent that investment in generative AI is not yet a high priority. However, according to Gartner, this is set to change over the next few years.

Generative AI is not yet on the rise, according to Gartner

The IT industry continues to develop in the direction of AI-supported applications. Everyone is talking about generative AI. Whether Microsoft, Amazon or Google, everyone is investing in the research and development of artificial intelligence.

According to the research institute Gartner, however, this "trend" has not yet reached other companies. IT spending on generative AI is expected to increase, but not to the extent that we might assume due to the hype surrounding AI: "Very little IT spending will be associated with GenAI in 2023 and 2024," explains John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, based on the research findings. Instead, companies would invest in AI and automation to increase operational efficiency. First, companies want to close talent gaps in IT. "The hype around GenAI supports this trend as CIOs recognize that today's AI projects will play an important role in developing an AI strategy and story before GenAI becomes part of their IT budgets in 2025."

The International Data Corporation (IDC) has conducted its own study on the development of investments in generative AI. The result: at the current annual growth rate of more than 70%, companies will invest a whopping 143 billion US dollars in generative AI by 2027.

By way of comparison, the figure for 2023 was around 16 billion US dollars.

IDC's findings coincide with those of Gartner in that IDC assumes that investments will be made in phases. Initial experiments with generative AI are to take place before the major investments follow.

What do companies invest in according to Gartner?

Generative AI will therefore not yet be the largest investment item in IT, at least in 2024. Gartner assumes that the following areas will be particularly important in the near future:

- Software: Gartner expects the biggest growth in software at 13.8%. Around 1.042 trillion US dollars will be spent on software by companies worldwide in 2024.

- Data centers: Here, Gartner expects an increase of 9.5% to USD 260 billion. In 2023, growth in this area has so far amounted to 4.7%, which means that it will double next year.

- Devices: Devices are a special case, as growth will be negative in 2023: minus 10%. Growth of 4.8% is expected in 2024 and Gartner is forecasting expenditure of 722 billion US dollars.

- IT services: An increase of 10.4% is on the cards for IT services. This includes management applications that simplify project and service management and enable better organization. Gartner estimates that 1.547 trillion US dollars will be spent on this in 2024.

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