Gartner ThinkCast

Mary Mesaglio, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, shares her insights on the evolving role of CIOs in 2025. She emphasizes the importance of reevaluating New Year's resolutions and turning regret into growth opportunities. They discuss crucial negotiation skills, especially when dealing with AI-infused vendor contracts, and the pressing need for establishing personal AI ethics. Mesaglio also highlights the significance of staying connected to emerging technologies, serving as a guide for tech leaders navigating today's challenges.

Whit Andrews, a Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst specializing in AI strategy, dives into how leaders can effectively deploy AI in their organizations. He discusses the crucial choices of building, buying, or blending AI solutions and introduces Gartner's 'AI technology sandwich' framework. The conversation highlights the importance of embedding AI into existing structures and the governance challenges that arise. Andrews also shares insights on aligning high-end AI experiences with everyday organizational needs and emphasizes starting with smaller AI projects for effective deployment.

Daryl Plummer, an expert in counterfeit reality and AI who coined the term, dives into the captivating world of deepfakes. He discusses how AI blurs the line between reality and fabrication, stressing both the creative opportunities and the inherent risks. Plummer highlights the psychological effects of these technologies on trust and perception in society. He also explores the dual nature of synthetic data, providing insights for leaders on navigating this evolving landscape while addressing the potential for misinformation.

Exploring the evolving dynamics between humans and AI, the discussion highlights the emotional implications of integrating AI into the workplace. Leaders must effectively communicate these changes to their teams. There's also a focus on decision-making conflicts when AI recommendations differ from human intuition. The importance of incorporating behavioral science to navigate these complexities is emphasized, setting the stage for future workforce collaboration between humans and machines.

In this discussion, Mary Mesaglio, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, shares insights on navigating the evolving landscape of AI for 2025. She emphasizes the shift from AI scarcity to abundance and how organizations can leverage generative AI with unstructured data. Mary introduces the 'AI tech sandwich' framework, highlighting the crucial TRISM layer that addresses trust, risk, and security. This conversation is essential for executive leaders aiming to connect AI effectively with their business strategies.

In this engaging discussion, Kristin Root, a Gartner expert in scenario planning and AI investment, shares invaluable strategies for CIOs and tech leaders. She emphasizes the importance of anticipating changes in U.S. policies and economic conditions. The conversation covers how organizations can prioritize AI investments effectively while integrating employee AI literacy. Kristin also highlights proactive measures for navigating investment risks and strengthening cybersecurity practices, ultimately guiding leaders on how to drive business value in uncertain times.

Mary Mesaglio, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner and an authority on AI business outcomes, dives deep into the transformative impact of AI on organizations. She highlights the three essential dimensions of AI value: Return on Employee (ROE), Return on Investment (ROI), and Return on the Future (ROF). Listeners will discover how these concepts interconnect and influence decision-making, talent retention, and strategic investments moving forward in the evolving AI landscape.

Daryl Plummer, a Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst known for his expertise in technological disruptions, shares eye-opening insights about seven game-changing trends expected by 2029. He discusses the rise of AI avatars and drones, transforming industries like agriculture and emergency response. Plummer also dives into the future of personalized cinema experiences and the ongoing challenges in the entertainment sector. Additionally, he emphasizes the urgency of addressing water scarcity and the need for self-generated energy to adapt to these disruptions.

Daryl Plummer, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, shares his expertise on the rise of guardian agents—novel AI systems designed to oversee other AI technologies. He discusses their critical role in ensuring AI behavior remains safe and reliable as AI agents proliferate. The conversation dives into frameworks for deploying these agents and highlights the evolving complexity of their protective functions. Plummer emphasizes the necessity for organizations to engage with guardian agents to maintain quality control and enhance human-AI collaboration.

Discover insights into the 2025 CIO Agenda and how IT leaders can shake off the 'curse of random success.' Learn about the importance of collaboration across executive teams to enhance digital initiatives. Explore key data trends and strategic priorities that can help CIOs effectively navigate the future. This discussion emphasizes the necessity of empowering business technologies to achieve meaningful outcomes.