Gartner ThinkCast

Latest Episodes:

The Truth Behind AI Layoffs and the Future of Work Trends for 2026 Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

AI-driven layoffs are making headlines, but is AI really the main culprit? Or is the story more complex? As organizations enter 2026, leaders face rising performance expectations, cultural strain, and mounting pressure to deliver productivity gains that rarely materialize. What does this mean for the future of work?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, host Alexis Wierenga talks with Gartner expert Emily Rose McRae to break down Gartner's Future of Work Trends for 2026. From the truth behind AI-related workforce reductions, to the hidden risks of AI "workslop" and the growing importance of mental fitness, Emily Rose shares actionable insights for HR leaders, CIOs and executives navigating an AI-enabled workplace.

You'll learn:

Why most AI-driven layoffs aren't what they seem
How "workslop" creates a hidden productivity drain in organizations
Why leaders aren't seeing expected productivity gains
Why performance pressure is rising and how to protect culture
The critical role of mental fitness in an AI-first world

Dig deeper:

Download the full 9 Future of Work Trends for 2026
Register for the Future of Work Trends live webinar
Join us at a Gartner HR Conference near you
See how Gartner is the world authority on AI

Gartner's CIO Agenda for 2026: The A.R.T. of Effective Execution Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

As CIOs enter 2026, the pressure is on: Budgets are flat, headcount is tight, and yet expectations for growth, innovation, and AI adoption are soaring. How can technology leaders deliver impact when resources are constrained and the pace of change is relentless?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Gartner expert Chris Howard walks through the latest CIO Agenda survey results for 2026, as debuted at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo. From navigating geopolitical vendor risk to shifting planning cycles and driving financial impact beyond productivity, Chris shares actionable insights for CIOs looking to lead with agility, manage risk strategically, and push through uncertainty with tenacity.

Tune in to discover:

Why agility, risk and tenacity are the defining traits of successful CIOs in 2026
How to pivot from annual planning to dynamic reprioritization
Why rethinking your vendor mix is critical amid rising digital sovereignty
How to move beyond productivity gains to deliver measurable financial impact
What AI adoption means for talent strategies and organizational resilience

Dig deeper:

Download more insights from the CIO Agenda for 2026
Join us at a Gartner CIO Conference near you
See how Gartner is the world authority on AI

Best of 2025 | Build, Buy or Bring-Your-Own AI: What's on Your Tech Sandwich? Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

As we close out the year, we're bringing you some of 2025's standout ThinkCast episodes. Today's episode, originally released in April, explores how leaders can scale AI using Gartner's "AI tech sandwich":

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we tackle one of the most pressing questions facing executive leaders today: How should organizations approach AI deployment?

Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Whit Andrews joins host Karen Stokes Lockhart to help answer whether leaders should build, buy or blend when approaching their AI integration, while further exploring Gartner's "AI technology sandwich" framework.

Tune in to hear Whit and Karen discuss the multiple layers of enterprise AI, including embedded AI, bring-your-own AI and the critical governance decisions that support a responsible, scalable foundation for IT and tech leaders navigating a complex AI landscape.

Dig Deeper:

Download the guide to Deploying AI in Your Organization
Register to attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you

Best of 2025 | The Future of Customer Experience: AI Agents, Machine Customers and What CEOs Must Know Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

As we close out the year, we're bringing you some of 2025's standout ThinkCast episodes. Today's episode, originally released in May, dives into the rapid emergence of machine customers and how AI agents are transforming customer experience looks:

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we explore what customer experience looks like today — a world where your most valuable customers might not even be human. Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Don Scheibenreif joins host Alexis Wierenga to unpack how CEO perceptions, AI agents and machine customers are reshaping CX strategy.

Drawing from Gartner's latest CEO research, Don shares critical insights on the shift in customer expectations, the rapid emergence of autonomous buyers and the emotional impact of AI adoption. Whether you're designing for humans, machines or both, this episode offers a roadmap for getting customer experience right in an AI-first future.

Tune in to discover:

Why CEOs may not know their customers as well as they think
What machine customers are and why they matter now
The key blind spots in AI-driven CX strategies
How to balance automation and humanity to create trust

Dig deeper:

Attend a Gartner Conference near you
Watch more insights on When Machines Become Customers
Watch the full conversation on YouTube

The Future of AI Implementation: What's After AI Agents? Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

AI is transforming faster than leaders can rewrite their strategies, and staying ahead requires a new kind of clarity. So how do you move beyond experimentation and hype to build AI that truly delivers business value?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Gartner Director Analyst Deepak Seth joins to explore what's next in AI implementation, including what comes after AI agents. He'll break down where AI really sits on the Gartner Hype Cycle today, why organizations struggle to operationalize new capabilities, and how leaders can stay grounded while still planning for a rapidly shifting future.

Tune in to discover:

How to overcome the most common implementation pitfalls
Why value from AI is a journey, not an overnight return
How to make forward-looking decisions without falling into "wait and see" paralysis
Why AI agents won't define the long-term future of enterprise AI
What bold predictions could reshape the next decade

Dig deeper:

Explore the CIO Agenda for 2026
Try out AskGartner for more trusted insights
Become a client to read more about distributed human computing and other future-looking insights

Top Tech Trends 2026: Meet the Innovation Superheroes Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

As disruption accelerates and AI becomes indispensable, CIOs and technology leaders face a critical question: How do you harness innovation without losing control?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Gartner experts Gene Alvarez and Tori Paulman walk through the Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2026, as debuted at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo. They explore why the pace of change is faster than ever, and how three new "innovation superheroes" — the Architect, the Synthesist, and the Vanguard — can help organizations build resilience, orchestrate intelligent systems and safeguard digital trust.

Tune in to discover:

Why 2026 marks the end of "optional AI," and what that means for your strategy
How AI-native development platforms and supercomputing will transform productivity
Why multiagent systems and domain-specific language models are key to reducing complexity
How physical AI bridges the digital and physical worlds
Why preemptive cybersecurity and digital provenance are essential for enterprise protection

Dig deeper:

Download the full Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2026
Join us at a Gartner CIO Conference near you
Become a client to try out AskGartner for more trusted insights

AI Shockwaves Explained: Disrupt Before You're Disrupted Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

As generative AI moves from novelty to necessity, its most profound impact isn't in incremental efficiency — it's in the shockwaves that ripple across industries. These disruptions challenge pricing models, rewrite competitive dynamics and even blur the boundaries between entire sectors. So how do you prepare to create — or counter — these seismic shifts?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Hung LeHong explores the concept of AI shockwaves: what they are, why they matter more than productivity gains, and how organizations can anticipate and harness them.

Tune in to discover:

Why first-order AI effects aren't enough to drive true disruption
How shockwaves emerge and the three levels of impact to watch
What it takes to move from cost savings to market-changing innovation
Why only 1 in 50 organizations succeed in creating disruption

Dig deeper:

Learn more about AI shockwaves
Register to watch the full webinar
Become a client to try out AskGartner for more trusted insights

IT Symposium/Xpo Opening Keynote 2025: Gartner's Golden Path for CIOs Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

As AI capabilities surge ahead, human readiness is struggling to keep pace — and that imbalance could derail your path to real value. So how can CIOs and IT leaders navigate this gap and avoid costly missteps?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, you'll hear the first 20 minutes of the Opening Keynote from Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2025, straight from the stage in Orlando. Gartner experts Alicia Mullery and Daryl Plummer reveal why the odds of achieving AI ROI remain stubbornly low, and what leaders must do to walk the "golden path" toward sustainable outcomes.

Tune in to discover:

Why human readiness is the biggest obstacle to AI success
How to plan for the hidden "transition mortgage" behind AI costs
Why conversational agents aren't enough
How to handle vendor selection in the era of digital nation states
Why a value remix strategy can unlock growth without workforce chaos

Dig deeper:

Download the Opening Keynote takeaways on AI readiness
Join us at a Gartner CIO Conference near you
Become a client to try out AskGartner for more trusted insights

The 4 Biggest Challenges for IT Leaders in 2026 Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Leadership won't get any easier in 2026. Geopolitical volatility, accelerating AI disruption and workforce identity shifts are creating unprecedented challenges for IT leaders. So how can you prepare?

In this mini episode of ThinkCast, recorded at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo in Orlando, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Mary Mesaglio sums up the insights from her dozens of onsite conversations with CIOs and top IT leaders. In just four minutes, she breaks down the four challenges shaping IT leadership into 2026, and offers practical strategies to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Tune in to discover:

The 4 challenges redefining IT leadership in 2026
Why optionality matters for decision-making in volatile times
How AI vendor races complicate long-term technology bets
Why identity threats demand a new leadership approach

Dig deeper:

Download the Opening Keynote takeaways
Join us at a Gartner CIO Conference near you
Become a client to try out AskGartner for more trusted insights

From Guardian to Catalyst: 8 Forces Reshaping CFO Identity Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

As economic volatility, cost pressure and technological acceleration reshape the finance landscape, CFOs are facing a pivotal identity shift. The instinct to protect the enterprise through tighter controls may no longer serve the moment. So what does it take to lead with resilience and unlock growth?

In this episode of ThinkCast, Gartner experts Clement Christensen and Mallory Bulman revisit their Opening Keynote from the Gartner Finance Symposium/Xpo. They introduce the "Catalyst CFO" — a new leadership identity designed for disruption — and explore the eight forces reshaping finance, from AI-enabled decision-making to discontinuous regulatory change.

Tune in to discover:

Why the "guardian" CFO mindset may be holding your organization back
The eight forces transforming finance and how to respond
How AI agents are changing the nature of financial decision-making
Why identity is the most underutilized leadership tool
What Catalyst CFOs do differently to drive agility, innovation, and growth

Dig deeper:

Download the Gartner CFO Report
Join us at a Gartner Finance Conference near you
Become a client to try out AskGartner for more trusted insights

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