|
Deloitte 2026 Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions: Narrowing the Gap Between the Promise of AI and its Reality
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
AI breakthroughs, rising infrastructure demands, and social-first content are breaking down industry walls -- reshaping how businesses build, connect, and entertain
NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --
Key takeaways
-- Agents assemble: The global agentic AI market could reach $45 billion in
2030, but only if enterprises and providers perform proper
orchestration.
-- AI disrupts search: Daily usage of AI within search is expected to be
three times greater than the usage of any standalone AI tool.
-- Hardware heats up: Inference -- the running of AI models -- is predicted
to make up two-thirds of all AI compute by 2026. However, Deloitte also
forecasts that most inference will likely still take place in data
centers using costly, power-intensive AI chips worth over $200 billion,
rather than on inexpensive chips at the edge.
Why this matters
Deloitte today released its annual "Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions" report, which highlights how AI is redefining the foundations of hardware, software, telecom, and media. AI is driving infrastructure investment, reshaping business models, and accelerating shifts in how people can connect and consume content--creating a more competitive and complex digital economy in 2026 and beyond.
Key quote
"AI is rapidly evolving from promise to practical progress, transforming how technology, media, and telecom companies create, connect, and compete. Together, these sectors account for nearly half of global market capitalization -- representing a powerful opportunity to redefine how businesses innovate and deliver value. From hardware and software to media and entertainment, applied creativity and technological advances are accelerating this shift, driving real-world solutions and measurable impact."
-- China Widener, vice chair and U.S. Technology, Media & Telecommunications industry leader, Deloitte
AI is rewriting the rules of search and software
AI is changing business software, creating new markets, and reshaping how people can search for information and products -- trends that are predicted to accelerate through 2026.
-- AI is becoming an intuitive interface that summarizes results, infusing
traditional search portals with AI context. By 2026, daily usage of AI
within search is projected to be three times greater than any standalone
AI tool -- reshaping how people can discover information. Deloitte
predicts that close to one-third (29%) of adults in developed countries
will view at least one AI-generated search summary each day, but just
10% will use standalone AI applications daily. Instead of users clicking
through links and stitching together answers, search will increasingly
deliver AI-crafted summaries up front, evolving from a gateway into a
guide that can help interpret, organize, and explain information in
context.
-- Agentic AI is expected to drive the next era of enterprise integration.
Estimates suggest that the global agentic AI market could reach $35
billion in 2030, up from a projected $8.5 billion in 2026. However,
Deloitte predicts that if enterprises orchestrate agents better and more
thoughtfully address the associated challenges and risks, this market
projection could increase by up to 30%, or as high as $45 billion by
2030.
-- In 2026, SaaS apps will likely get smarter, more personalized, adaptive,
and autonomous. Agentic AI could even begin to replace today's SaaS
tools over time. By the end of 2026, Deloitte predicts that as many as
75% of companies may invest in agentic AI, fueling a surge in spending
on autonomous AI agents across SaaS platforms.
Key quote
"AI is becoming the engine of digital business, spanning everything from generative creativity to agentic automation. It's reshaping how technology connects, how people search, and how value is created across the enterprise. We're now seeing it move into every level of software and hardware, and the leaders who can orchestrate that intelligence responsibly will turn experimentation into efficiency -- and sustained momentum -- at scale."
-- Steve Fineberg, vice chair and U.S. Technology Sector leader, Deloitte
AI helps drive demand for tech hardware and infrastructure -- and exposes risks
Agentic AI and automation are accelerating demand for new hardware and infrastructure. They're also exposing supply chain vulnerabilities and fueling a global push for greater local control of technology.
-- Deloitte predicts that inference -- the process of running AI models --
will account for roughly two-thirds of AI compute in 2026. Deloitte
further predicts that while the market for inference-optimized chips
will grow to over $50 billion in 2026, combined training/inference AI
chips in data centers will continue to dominate the $200 billion AI chip
market.
-- The cumulative installed base of global industrial robots is estimated
to surpass 5.5 million by 2026, with modest annual growth. Annual sales
are projected at about 500,000 units in 2026, not much higher than in
previous years. Longer term, growth could accelerate as labor shortages
bolster domestic manufacturing in developed markets and as advances in
computing power and GenAI expand robotic capabilities. These AI advances
could propel annual industrial robot sales to over a million units and
$20 billion in revenues by 2030. Drones are also emerging as part of
this shift: Many remain human-operated, autonomous functions are
advancing rapidly, with applications ranging from infrastructure
inspection to public safety, defense, and more.
Streaming, social, and storytelling collide
The lines between TV, streaming, and user-generated content continue to blur. From generative AI video and bite-sized micro dramas to video podcasts and bold collaborations between public service broadcasters and creators, new forms of storytelling are changing how audiences engage and participate.
-- Microdramas -- short, plot-driven serials designed for smartphones --
are watched by over half a billion viewers annually, blending the
convenience of short-form video with serialized storytelling. Their
global popularity is surging: In-app revenue is forecast to reach $3.8
billion in 2025, and Deloitte predicts that it will more than double to
$7.8 billion by 2026. While the U.S. is expected to generate half of
global revenue in 2025, its share will likely drop to 40% as other
markets increasingly capitalize on this trend.
-- Approaching Hollywood quality, generative AI video is helping to unlock
new creative possibilities -- empowering independent creators, fueling
richer audience engagement, and creating new revenue streams for
platforms. At the same time, the scale and realism raise important
challenges around authenticity, audience trust, and responsible usage.
Platforms may need to strengthen moderation, invest in tools like
watermarking, and comply with emerging regulations on labeling and age
verification. How well they respond could determine if generative video
can drive growth without undermining trust in their platforms.
-- Podcasting is shifting from audio to video, with a leading platform now
offering video on over 60% of top-rated shows in fall 2025. By 2026,
Deloitte expects video-enabled podcasts to become even more prevalent as
audiences seek richer, more immersive experiences. Deloitte predicts
that annual global ad revenues for podcasts and vodcasts will reach
roughly $5 billion in 2026, a nearly 20% year-over-year increase,
underscoring accelerating growth and opportunity.
Key quote
"AI is redefining creativity -- transforming how stories are made, shared, and experienced. As streaming, social, and storytelling collide, audiences are engaging across formats and feeds in entirely new ways. Both social platforms and traditional media and entertainment companies are racing to keep up with rapidly shifting expectations and behaviors. The challenge now is sustaining trust -- balancing innovation and integrity in the next era of entertainment."
-- Doug Van Dyke, vice chair and U.S. Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment sector leader, Deloitte
About this report
Deloitte's annual TMT Predictions report provides an outlook on technology, media, and telecommunications trends that may disrupt and transform the business and consumer ecosystems worldwide. Visit: https://www.deloitte.com/tmtpredictions
Connect with us on LinkedIn at Deloitte.
About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters for our people, clients, and communities. We bring together distinct talents, technologies, disciplines, and an ecosystem of alliances to help tackle today's most complex business challenges and drive long-term progress. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 180 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 470,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deloitte-2026-technology-media--telecommunications-predictions-narrowing-the-gap-between-the-promise-of-ai-and-its-reality-302617890.html
SOURCE Deloitte
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Energy Toolbase Launches Energy Storage Partnership with Sungrow to Support PowerStack 255CS and PowerTitan 2.0 | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
RS now offers Phoenix Contact's pioneering new NearFi technology | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
Einride and IonQ Partnership Uses Quantum Computing to Optimize the Logistics of Electric and Autonomous Freight | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
MetaOptics to Showcase Five Breakthrough Metalens-Powered Products at CES 2026 | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
Quantum Art Raises $100 Million in Series A Round to Drive Scalable, Multi-Core Quantum Computing | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
No Assembly Required: Barrett Distribution Centers Powers Maxwood Furniture's West Coast DTC Expansion | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
SCAILIUM Debuts "AI Production Layer" to Overcome GPU Starvation and Slash AI Energy Waste | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
Fresco Raises EUR15m Series C to Power the Future of AI-Driven Cooking and the Connected Kitchen Ecosystem | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
Hesai Recognized as the Only Lidar Company on Morgan Stanley's "Humanoid Tech 25" of Global Robotics Leaders | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
AGS Devices Goes Live With CELUS Design Platform to Support Faster Electronics Design | Jan 22, 2026
|
|
|
|
