AI Infrastructure Market Disruptors in 2026

10:45 am - 11:10 am

Outlining the key disruptors reshaping the semiconductor industry through the lens of AI infrastructure, emphasizing how demand for compute, power and advanced integration is fundamentally redefining value creation. The presentation will highlight three major forces: (1) evolving market economics, (2) technology shifts, and (3) geopolitical dynamics. We will also look at the transition from component-level competition to system-level and ecosystem-level differentiation, with vertically integrated players gaining outsized advantage.

Ultimately, we will argue that future semiconductor leaders will be those that architect resilient, power-efficient and geopolitically aware AI infrastructure, as the industry moves from selling products to enabling AI as a scalable utility.

Key Technologies Covered

Market Economics
- AI infrastructure demand
- ODM selection for AI infrastructure
- New device AI marketing shift
Technology
- Co-packaged optics adoption
- Powering data centers
- 800VDC AI data centers
Geopolitics
- China’s semiconductor self-sufficiency
- Taiwan’s role in AI infrastructure
- Sovereign AI

Featured Speakers

Mr. Guy Robertson

Senior Principal Analyst, Gartner Inc.

Guy Robertson is a Senior Principal Analyst in the Emerging Trends and Market Dynamics (EMD) semiconductor team, based in Gartner's Taipei office. His research is centered on wired connectivity, including the push from electrical to optical connectivity within AI data centers. He has also published research on semiconductor solutions for low-power endpoint devices and assists with inquiries regarding Taiwan's semiconductor and electronics supply chains, including geopolitical considerations.

Prior to joining Garner, Mr. Robertson served for four years as Head of Science and Innovation at the UK Government’s representative office in Taipei, the British Office. He possesses extensive expertise in semiconductors and optoelectronics, with previous roles including laser driver IC design for fiber optic transceivers at Agilent Technologies, business development lead for fiber optic ICs at Nanotech Semiconductors, and General Manager at Exxelis, focusing on functional polymer films for LCD panels and membrane switches.