Global Scans · Technology · Weekly Summary

• [New] Global IT spending is forecast to reach $6.31 trillion in 2026, up 13.5% year-over-year, with data-center systems spending up 55.8% as the fastest-growing category. Corporate Finance Associates
• [New] PwC's survey of global manufacturing leaders shows AI, automation, and advanced technologies moving rapidly from experimentation to scale, with tech enablement and automation set to more than double by 2030. PwC
• [New] The median share of respondents who indicate their company's activities are largely reliant on advanced technologies is poised to more than double by 2030, rising from 26% to 68%. PwC
• [New] By the end of 2030, in the rapid-progress world, AI systems are capable of competing with the best human minds and workers, and can surpass them. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta are expected to spend more than $700bn on AI infrastructure in 2026, while Britain is competing to attract new data centers and computing capacity. City AM
• [New] On a gross basis, current technology investment could add close to one percentage point to 2026 US GDP growth, concentrated among a handful of firms. investing.com
• [New] The FCC's decision further escalates the US competition with China over emerging technologies and comes as fears over China's tech have shifted financial markets. The Guardian
• [New] Reliable American technology and innovation will continue to serve as partners (to Morocco) for the next 250 years in all strategic sectors, notably energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and defence. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Cloud-based high-performance computing will accelerate the transition of research into operations by eliminating traditional bottlenecks of on-premise systems. theregister
• [New] U.S. agencies have been directed to inventory cryptographic systems, assess quantum risk, and prepare migration plans for post-quantum cryptography. Palo Alto Networks
• [New] The National Institute of Standards and Technology finalized its first post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024, and a recent executive order set a 2031 deadline for the federal government to defend against quantum attacks on classical cryptography. Galaxy
• [New] Galaxy today announced the launch of the Galaxy Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative, a multi-pillar program dedicated to preparing Bitcoin for the threat posed by advances in quantum computing. Galaxy
• [New] Allies will consider partnerships that prioritise co-design, co-development, co-production and co-sustainment and sharing of key technologies and intellectual property in a way that reinforces NATO while advancing national sovereignty. Official texts and resources | NATO
• [New] NATO will continue to pursue interoperability and promote it as a continuous requirement throughout the systems lifecycle. Official texts and resources | NATO
• [New] In collaboration with a Dutch start-up, Ferm has developed an innovative digital 'cyber shield' that continuously monitors systems accessible via the internet and identifies vulnerabilities at an early stage. Port of Rotterdam
• [New] Leading Region: North America is projected to lead, accounting for approximately 37% share in 2026, supported by early technology adoption, a high concentration of software vendors, and advanced digital infrastructure. Persistence Market Research
• [New] China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that China's annual humanoid robot production volume is expected to exceed 100,000 units in 2026. Tech Times
• [New] A collaboration to help organizations identify vulnerabilities early and deploy protections fast across open source software, commercial applications, operational technology and healthcare technologies. Palo Alto Networks
• [New] As more computing power arrives, American companies are expected to extend their A.I. lead. The New York Times
• [New] The NCSC and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are leading the blueprint for Cyber Shield, which aims to use frontier AI to identify, reduce, and resolve national cyber risks at machine speed. UKAuthority
• [New] If OpenAI's account is accurate, organizations will need enhanced security, governance, and risk frameworks capable of addressing autonomous systems that can independently identify and exploit paths their creators did not anticipate. Mishcon de Reya LLP
• [New] OpenAI was testing GPT-5.6 Sol and a more powerful unreleased model using ExploitGym, a benchmark that challenges AI systems to find and exploit software vulnerabilities. Live Science

Last updated: 03 August 2026