According to the information compiled by the AA reporter from the "Technology Trends Outlook 2026" report published by McKinsey & Company, technological transformation is now evident not only in the software field, but also in physical areas that require large capital such as data centers, semiconductors, energy infrastructure, robotics and space technologies.
In the report, which evaluates investment as well as patents, scientific publications, workforce demand and the adoption levels of technologies by companies, 14 technology trends shaping the year 2026 are examined in three main groups: artificial intelligence revolution, advanced engineering, computing and connection technologies.
According to the report, the scaling of artificial intelligence triggers especially energy and infrastructure investments. It is stated that approximately 200 billion dollars were invested in energy technologies last year, which is one of the highest capital inflows among technology fields, and expenditures on artificial intelligence infrastructure have doubled in a year.
These developments indicate that hardware, energy infrastructure and qualified workforce have become as decisive as software in the technology race.
According to the calculation, which adapts the investment trends in the first half of the year to the year-round, investments in software development with artificial intelligence agents, artificial intelligence infrastructure and model architectures, artificial intelligence in scientific discovery and engineering, space technologies and robotics are expected to more than double the 2025 level this year.
Space technologies are among the areas where investments are expected to more than double
According to the investment chart in the report, one of the most striking jumps is seen in artificial intelligence infrastructure and model architectures. It is calculated that investments in this field are on track to increase approximately 5.3 times last year in 2026, investments in artificial intelligence in scientific discovery and engineering to 3.2 times, and investments in robotics to 2.1 times.
While equity investments in the field of artificial intelligence infrastructure and model architectures are calculated to reach approximately 384 billion dollars in the first half of 2026, it is estimated that investments can reach approximately 769 billion dollars by the end of this year if the investment pace in the first half of the year continues.
Space technologies are also among the areas where investments are expected to more than double.
It is stated that these calculations are based on the linear transfer of the investment rate in the first half of the year to the end of the year and that the estimates are instructive due to large-scale transactions.
The scale of artificial intelligence investments also increases the financing needs of large technology companies.
According to the report, the increase in artificial intelligence investments creates a need for new investments in electricity production and network infrastructure. It is estimated that data centers in the US running AI workloads alone could consume as much electricity as California today by 2030.
While it is pointed out that the scale reached by artificial intelligence investments also increases the financing needs of large technology companies, it is also noted that capital expenditures for artificial intelligence infrastructure have begun to put a strain on the balance sheets of companies.
In addition to the rapidly growing energy needs of artificial intelligence, the demand for energy security and network investments make energy and sustainability technologies one of the areas where capital is concentrated.
In addition to reducing carbon emissions in the investment environment in the field of energy, factors such as energy supply security, competitiveness of the industry, domestic production and the speed of implementation of investments are becoming increasingly important.
