A recent global survey conducted by Recon Analytics and commissioned by Seagate Technology reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is set to drive an unprecedented surge in data creation, resulting in a significant rise in demand for cloud-based storage solutions. The survey gathered insights from business leaders across 15 industries and 10 countries, including Singapore.
The study highlights that companies worldwide are preparing for a dramatic increase in cloud storage needs, with over 61% of global respondents expecting their cloud storage requirements to grow by more than 100% by 2028. In Singapore, this figure stands at 53%, underscoring the region’s growing reliance on cloud solutions for managing data volumes generated by AI technologies.
Hard drives as the backbone of cloud storage
Hard drives play a critical role in supporting cloud storage infrastructure, offering scalability and cost efficiencies measured in terabytes per dollar. According to analyst firm IDC, 89% of data stored by leading cloud service providers relies on hard drives. As AI adoption accelerates, so does the volume of data stored in the cloud, positioning hard drives as a key enabler of this growth.
“The survey results generally point to a coming surge in demand for data storage, with hard drives emerging as the clear winner,” said Roger Entner, founder and lead analyst of Recon Analytics. “When you consider that the business leaders we surveyed intend to store more and more of this AI-driven data in the cloud, it appears that cloud services are well-positioned to ride a second growth wave.”
AI adoption and the need for longer data retention
The survey revealed several key insights:
- 62% of Singapore respondents currently use AI, compared to a higher global average of 72%.
- Globally, storage ranks as the second most important component of AI infrastructure, following security.
- In Singapore, 85% of businesses using AI agree that retaining data for longer periods improves the quality of AI outcomes, close to the global average of 90%.
- 88% of respondents globally believe that the adoption of Trustworthy AI necessitates storing more data for extended durations, with Singapore matching this trend at 90%.
These findings highlight a growing shift towards longer data retention periods to ensure data integrity and optimise AI model training. Trustworthy AI, which emphasises accuracy and reliability, is seen as a cornerstone for broader AI adoption.
“Trustworthy AI is really the key to enabling mainstream adoption of AI,” stated BS Teh, Chief Commercial Officer of Seagate. “With the vast majority of survey respondents saying they need to store data for longer periods to improve quality outcomes of AI, we’re focused on areal density innovation needed to increase storage capacity for each platter in our HAMR-based hard drives. We have a clear pathway to more than double per-platter storage capacity over the next few years.”
Preparing for a data-driven future
As organisations increasingly adopt AI, their need for robust cloud-based storage solutions continues to grow. The Seagate survey underscores the pivotal role of hard drives in meeting these demands, positioning them as essential for scalable and cost-effective data storage. Businesses in Singapore and across the globe are gearing up for a future shaped by AI-driven data creation, prioritising security, storage, and trustworthy AI as key pillars for growth.
