Gartner® Predicts 2026: Physical AI
Pushes I&O to the Edge

Edge computing is evolving faster than ever. Data volumes are surging. AI is moving from the data center to the front lines. And operational technologies (OT) are becoming inseparable from IT strategy. Gartner® “Predicts 2026: Physical AI Pushes I&O to the Edge” reveals the urgent trends shaping the next era of digital transformation.

Do you know:

  • “By 2028, more than two-thirds of enterprise-managed data will be created and processed outside the data center or cloud.
  • Over two-thirds of all enterprises globally will deploy edge AI by 2029, up from 10% in 2025.
  • By 2030, infrastructure and operations (I&O) will have shared responsibility for 80% of edge computing deployments, compared with 10% in 2025.

What you’ll learn in this complimentary report:

  • Edge Data Explosion: Discover how IoT devices and edge processing are shifting the balance of enterprise data—and why this matters more than ever.
  • Rise of Physical AI: Learn why AI and automation at the edge are becoming core to business operations and unlocking new value.
  • Power-Efficient Computing: See how the quest for greater performance and energy efficiency is driving innovation in edge hardware.
  • IT/OT Convergence: Understand how boundaries between IT and operational technology are blurring—and how this changes roles from the CIO on down.
  • New I&O Responsibilities: Explore how infrastructure & operations (I&O) teams will need to adapt, as their influence on edge architecture and data management grows.

Ready to see what’s next in the world of edge AI and I&O?

Click here to access your complimentary copy of Gartner “Predicts 2026: Physical AI Pushes I&O to the Edge.”

Click here to view the full report

Gartner, Predicts 2026: Physical AI Pushes I&O to the Edge, Thomas Bittman, Sumit Rajput, Thomas Bittman, Avinash Dev Nagumanthri, Mohini Dukes, Sushovan Mukhopadhyay, Bhuvie Chhabra, Enrique Hernandez-Valencia, 3 March 2026. Gartner is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from AT&T.

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