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Molex Names Top 10 Connectivity and Electronics Design Predictions for 2026, Fueled by Far-Reaching Impact of Artificial Intelligences Across Major Industries
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
-- Intensifying AI demands continue to proliferate across aerospace and
defense, automotive, consumer electronics, data center, industrial
automation and MedTech
-- Advances continue in thermal management, power efficiency, optical
connectivity, electrification, personalization along with modular
architecture and open standards
-- Continued collaboration needed to ensure supply optionality, localized
manufacturing and pragmatic, AI-driven data intelligence to drive
digital supply chain intelligence
LISLE, Ill., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to transform every major industry sector over the next 12 to 18 months, driving exponential demand for computational resources while causing major bottlenecks in both compute power and connectivity. AI-driven data proliferation and processing are creating new opportunities and obstacles for design engineers across fast-growth sectors, including automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, data centers, industrial automation and MedTech.
"AI models in every industry--from autonomous vehicle sensors and high-resolution medical imaging to vital defense systems and real-time control systems on factory floors--generate massive amounts of data while requiring high-speed connectivity, advanced power delivery and efficient thermal management," said Aldo Lopez, SVP and president, Datacom and Specialty Solutions, Molex. "In 2026, we will remain steadfast in helping remove critical bottlenecks in compute power and connectivity while working with customers, suppliers and partners worldwide to develop future-ready, AI-driven infrastructures."
Top 10 Predictions for 2026
1. High-speed interconnects remain essential to delivering the speed and
density to enable AI/Machine Learning workloads in modern hyperscale data
centers Communication between major compute elements, like GPUs and AI
accelerators within a data-center server or chassis, necessitates a mix
of high-speed backplane and board-to-board solutions designed for 224Gbps
PAM-4 speed, along with high-speed pluggable I/O connectors that support
aggregate speeds up to 400/800Gbps while providing a path to 1.6T.
2. Energy consumption hampers data-center scaling, propelling advancements
in thermal management The heat generated by high-performance servers and
systems needed to scale generative AI applications while supporting the
transition to 224Gbps PAM-4 has exceeded traditional solutions relying on
air-cooling technology. Developments in liquid cooling, including
direct-to-chip cooling, immersion cooling and passive components that
enhance active cooling, will continue to gain traction and exploration
over the next 12 to 18 months.
3. Demand escalates for Co-Packaged Optics to support "scale-up"
architecturesCo-Packaged Optics (CPO) is considered essential for
handling GPU-to-GPU interconnectivity in AI-driven architecture. Designed
to deliver ultra-high bandwidth density directly at the chip edge, CPO
enables much higher interconnect density while reducing power consumption
and electrical signal loss. The focus on CPO is expected to intensify in
the coming year, as it has been developed specifically to address the
massive power and bandwidth demands of hyperscale data centers and AI/ML
clusters.
4. Specialty fiber optics accelerate MedTech and aerospace and defense
innovationsSpecialty fiber optics offer high-precision links with
immunity to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). No wider than human hair,
optical fiber increasingly powers high-resolution imaging equipment, like
MRI and CT scanners, while delivering concentrated laser energy for
non-invasive therapeutic treatments. Fiber optics also address
engineering challenges in satellite and space systems to transmit vast
volumes of data over long distances with minimal signal degradation.
5. Rugged, reliable and miniaturized solutions gain momentum across every
major sectorThe use of compact, durable connectors that thrive in harsh
environments has long dominated automotive as well as aerospace and
defense applications. Pushing boundaries for greater reliability in very
small form factors has now permeated consumer electronics (e.g., fitness
trackers, smartwatches and smart home devices); industrial automation
(e.g., warehouse robots, touchscreens and sensors); as well as medical
devices (e.g., endoscopes, insulin pumps and wearable health monitors).
6. Electrification continues to accelerate, driving demand for high-speed,
high-power connectivityElectrification trends in military land systems
are gaining ground, with growth in Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing
(eVTOL) systems, which need lightweight, miniaturized and rugged MIL-SPEC
connectors and cables. An early proponent of zonal architecture for
next-gen electrified vehicles, Molex connects multiple sensors, cameras,
radar, LiDAR and other technologies while prioritizing the role of hybrid
or mixed connectors needed to handle power and high-speed signals
associated with in-vehicle networks.
7. Mandates for modular solutions and open standards grow across most
industry sectors An active participant in the Open Compute Project (OCP),
Molex is developing next-generation data center cooling technologies and
modular hardware specifications to enhance hyperscale system performance,
efficiency and modularity. Close alignment with industry standards groups
in aerospace and defense also empowers Molex to focus on reducing size,
weight, power and cost (SWaP-C).
8. 48V architecture gains traction as universal standard for power
efficiency 48V architecture is rapidly becoming the universal standard
for power efficiency in AI-driven data centers and next-gen vehicles. A
power architecture enabler, Molex drives innovation in 48V technology to
solve thermal density challenges and reduce cabling weight in automobiles
while addressing power spikes caused by generative AI workloads in data
centers in support of the OCP Open Rack v3 (ORV3) standard.
9. Personalization continues to shift, thanks to emergence of agentic AI
Agentic AI adapts readily to changing conditions, aiding real-time
decision making and personalization. In automotive, this translates to
advances in autonomous driving and in-cabin experiences that function
more like a third living space. In consumer electronics and MedTech
wearables, greater personalization optimizes product usage while
real-time diagnostics improve wellbeing. On factory floors, real-time
access to data and adaptive human-machine interfaces improve productivity
and operational efficiency.
10. Demands for supply optionality and regional manufacturing grow amid
global trade volatilityInvestments in AI-driven data ecosystems will
propel digital supply chain intelligence to support demands for new,
regional supply networks and localized manufacturing amid shifting trade
policies. The result requires increased supply chain resilience amid
growing demands for increased predictive procurement intelligence.
Supporting Resources
-- Dive deeper into these 2026 predictions and hear from Molex industry
experts as they explore how engineering ingenuity and emerging
technologies are shaping the future. Watch the videos to discover what's
in store across key industries in the coming year.
About Molex
Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more connected place. With a presence in more than 38 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the consumer device, aerospace and defense, data center, cloud, telecommunications, transportation, industrial automation and healthcare industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com.
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SOURCE Molex Incorporated
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