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Generative AI's Impact on Data Generation and Storage

Publisher IDC
Published Apr 30, 2025
Length 21 Pages
SKU # IDC20001725

Description

This IDC Market Perspective provides an analysis of generative AI's (GenAI's) impact on data generation and storage. While GenAI drives new forms of content creation, much of the resulting data is ephemeral, cached, or selectively retained. This document explores how different formats, workflows, and use cases impact storage infrastructure and data life-cycle management. It also highlights the diverging roles of SSDs and HDDs and the growing need for intelligent, flexible infrastructure."As generative AI transforms the way content is created, its impact on global data volumes is not defined by raw output, but by the lifespan, purpose, and reusability of the content itself," says Adam Wright, research manager for IDC's Global DataSphere and Global StorageSphere research. "The shift is not just toward more data but toward different data."

Table of Contents

21 Pages

Executive Snapshot

New Market Developments and Dynamics

Introduction

The Role of Content Format and File Size

Enterprise Versus Consumer Contexts

GenAI and the Data Life Cycle: Ephemeral, Cached, and Saved

Net-New Data Versus Replaced Content

Spillover Effects and the Expanding Digital Footprint

GenAI's Impact on Data Retention Policies

HDD Versus SSD: A Case of Horses for Courses

What About Volatile Storage (DRAM)?

The Compression Effect: Could GenAI Reduce Storage Needs?

Future Outlook

Conclusion

Advice for the Technology Supplier

Learn More

Related Research

Synopsis

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