The global economy is currently navigating through a complex web of challenges marked by sluggish recovery and intensifying worldwide issues. In this dynamic landscape, the digital economy emerges as a beacon of hope, offering critical support for transformation and growth across nations. Notably, the rise of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain has become a pivotal force driving social progress and catalyzing economic development. These innovations are fundamentally reshaping the landscape of production and the fabric of daily life.

According to recent analyses, countries are increasingly adopting digital technology strategies that prioritize technological breakthroughs and integration development. The focus is firmly set on significant future innovations and enhancements, with an emphasis on refining theoretical foundations, architectural advancements, and optimizing applications to meet evolving demands. This strategic alignment showcases two predominant characteristics: accelerated deployment in key sectors and heightened comprehensive support.

In the context of economic recovery, digital industries are stepping up to provide critical backing. Global trade in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products is witnessing significant growth, representing an escalating share of total global trade. For instance, data from 142 nations that have disclosed 2023 trade statistics indicate that ICT product exports reached a staggering $2.4 trillion, accounting for 11.1% of global exports. While this figure reflects a slight contraction from the previous year, it demonstrates a 2.8 percentage point increase compared to a decade ago. Within this sector, electronic integrated circuits dominate the export landscape, comprising over 30% of total ICT product exports, followed by telecommunications equipment and data processing machines.

The rapid development of large data centers is noteworthy as well. Recently, France announced plans to invest €109 billion in the AI sector over the coming years, a significant commitment akin to the United States' ambitious "Gateway to Space" initiative. This U.S. program includes collaborative efforts between major players such as the U.S. Open AI Research Center, SoftBank Group of Japan, and Oracle Corporation, with an impressive $500 billion allocated for building data centers over the next four years to propel AI advancements.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the magnitude of this technological revolution, outlining plans to double the number of young individuals trained in AI from 40,000 to 100,000. As digital applications proliferate and technologies like AI-generated content (AIGC) and large models gain traction, there is a corresponding surge in global demand for computational power. Data centers, serving as essential infrastructures for high-performance computing, are increasingly positioned at the heart of this growing industry.

Recent reports indicate a trend towards the centralized development of data centers, with large facilities remaining the focal point of future construction efforts. Since 2018, the global count of data centers has recorded a steady decline from over 460,000, landing at approximately 420,000 centers in 2023—a 2.2% decrease from the prior year, though with an acceleration in the rate of reduction. Projections suggest that, between 2023 and 2027, the number of micro data centers will continue to slide slightly, while small, medium, and large data centers will experience positive growth—especially large facilities, whose numbers are expected to grow from 1,760 in 2023 to an impressive 1,955 by 2027.

As varying needs for computational power emerge from digital transformation and end-user digital consumption, along with the escalating requirements stemming from generative AI technologies, the demand for computation capacity is projected to increase exponentially. Reports suggest that newly established hyperscale data centers will have average capacities exceeding double their current volumes over the next six years. Notably, the number of hyperscale data centers is expected to surpass 1,000 by early 2024, with approximately 120 to 130 new centers being added yearly. In terms of regional IT loads, the United States continues to dominate the global data center capacity landscape, boasting a commanding 51% share, followed by Europe at 17% and China at 16%. Over the past four years, the total capacity of hyperscale data centers worldwide has doubled.

As technologies evolve, the convergence of Information Technology (IT), Communication Technology (CT), Operational Technology (OT), and Data Technology (DT) has become commonplace. This cross-disciplinary innovation not only spurs the development of new business models and practices but also endows traditional industries with a robust impetus for transformation. The report highlights that such synergy is accelerating the implementation of new technologies while also cultivating a plethora of innovative solutions and service models that invigorate global economic growth.

Investment in digital transformation is soaring at an unprecedented rate. Recent data indicates that global spending on digital transformation surpassed $2.1 trillion in 2023, constituting over 52% of total global investment. Future projections are even more staggering, with expectations that digital transformation spending will balloon to $4.4 trillion by 2028, marking it as a cornerstone in driving the transformation and upgrading of the global economy.

When broken down by sector, it is evident that enhancing efficiency and optimizing services are focal points of corporate digital expenditures. The financial services sector, in particular, is witnessing a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expected to reach 20.5%. Among the most rapidly expanding sectors are those heavily reliant on AI and data analytics, including claims processing through robotic process automation, real-time financial advisory services, and digital banking experiences. Moreover, the discrete manufacturing sector is poised to lead the charge in digital transformation spending in 2024, with estimates indicating near $5 trillion in expenditure, which is expected to rise beyond $700 billion by 2027. Notably, the emergence of customer service and self-service scenarios powered by AI is becoming a pervasive trend, offering solutions that enhance user engagement and sustainability across industries, with expected expenditures in 2024 reaching a notable $16.7 billion.

In parallel, heightened efforts are underway globally to bolster data security and privacy. Countries are investing in technological advancements aimed at enhancing data privacy and security measures. The report notes a consistent uptick in the adoption of advanced technologies such as enhanced data privacy techniques, blockchain, differential privacy, and homomorphic encryption within the data privacy and security domains.