Bottom line: Specialized cloud providers focused on AI infrastructure and data sovereignty are fragmenting the hyperscaler-dominated market.
Gartner forecasts that specialized AI cloud providers (neoclouds) will capture approximately 20 percent of a $267 billion market by 2030. Regulatory requirements and data sovereignty are driving this market shift.
According to Gartner forecasts, neoclouds – cloud providers whose infrastructure is purpose-built from the ground up for AI workloads and high-performance computing – will control approximately 20 percent of the AI cloud market by 2030, which is projected to reach a volume of $267 billion. These platforms differ fundamentally from classic hyperscalers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud: they are not retrofitted general-purpose data centers, but are specifically designed for GPU-intensive AI applications.
The growing demand for GPU computing power driven by generative AI creates bottlenecks at established providers – both technically and regulatorily. Neoclouds exploit this gap with superior performance for AI workloads, flexible deployment models, and competitive pricing. A key differentiator is data sovereignty: specialized providers contractually guarantee that data and operations remain restricted to specific legal jurisdictions, thereby protecting them from access by foreign authorities.
Regulatory dynamics are accelerating this trend. In addition to the established GDPR, the core transparency obligations of the EU AI Act come into effect in August 2026. Combined with geopolitical tensions, this forces companies to fundamentally rethink their cloud architectures. For Chief Data Officers, this signals a strategic shift: dependence on a single hyperscaler becomes a risk factor.
Gartner recommends IT decision-makers adapt their diversification strategies and deliberately evaluate neoclouds. In parallel, finance, risk management, and compliance processes must be revised – technical controls to ensure operational resilience are necessary. According to Gartner Senior Director Analyst Enrique Castera, this transformation marks a new phase in the AI cloud market, in which sovereignty, performance, and infrastructure specialization are becoming primary decision criteria.
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published June 30, 2026
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