Seagate Technology’s global survey, conducted by Recon Analytics, reveals a transformative trajectory in data storage, driven by artificial intelligence (AI). The study, encompassing over 1,000 business leaders across 15 industries in 10 countries, highlights that 61% of cloud storage users anticipate their data storage needs to more than double by 2028. This rapid expansion underscores the critical role of cloud storage, primarily reliant on hard drives, in supporting AI-driven innovation.
AI adoption is no longer a distant goal but a reality for 72% of respondents, who identify storage as the second most vital component of AI infrastructure, trailing only security. Businesses increasingly recognize that retaining data for longer periods enhances the quality of AI outcomes, with 90% of AI adopters emphasizing its significance. Furthermore, 88% of respondents underline that Trustworthy AI requires extended data retention, ensuring data integrity for accurate AI model training.
The survey findings reveal a trend toward long-term data retention to meet the demands of AI’s precision and scalability. As BS Teh, Chief Commercial Officer of Seagate, stated, “Trustworthy AI is key to mainstream adoption. The majority of survey respondents confirm the need for longer data retention to improve AI quality outcomes. Seagate is committed to advancing HAMR-based hard drive technology to double per-platter storage capacity in the coming years.”
IDC data further substantiates these insights, showing that 89% of data stored by leading cloud service providers relies on hard drives. Seagate’s focus on scalability aligns with businesses’ escalating storage needs, as hard drives offer cost-efficient solutions for managing vast volumes of data.
The study also delves into the broader priorities of AI infrastructure. Security leads the list, followed by storage, data management, and network capacity. This hierarchy reflects the intricate interplay of components required to support AI’s rapid expansion.
Roger Entner, founder of Recon Analytics, remarked, “The survey highlights an imminent surge in storage demand, positioning hard drives as indispensable for scaling AI-driven cloud services.”
Seagate’s innovations in areal density and HAMR technology stand at the forefront of this evolution, promising to meet the soaring demands for mass-capacity data storage. With the convergence of AI and cloud storage, Seagate is poised to lead in enabling the next wave of technological advancements.
Sources:
- Seagate Technology Press Release, January 14, 2025
- Recon Analytics, November 2024 Survey Findings
- IDC Cloud Infrastructure Index Report, 2024
For more details, visit the Seagate website or access the full survey results on Recon Analytics.