“Guardian agents will be indispensable. … There are not enough humans to oversee everything that AI is doing.” — Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst and Gartner Fellow

By 2026, a staggering five billion machines will be making autonomous decisions that shape our world. But as we stand on the brink of this technological era, a critical question emerges: who — or what — will ensure these machines align with our human values and interests?

Join us on this edition of CIO Mind as Distinguished VP Analyst and Gartner Fellow, Daryl Plummer, introduces us to the concept of “guardian agents” — AI systems that oversee other AI and ensure that human oversight and values are preserved and enhanced.

Episode highlights:

• What is a guardian agent? (1:05)
• Who oversees the guardian agents? (3:50)
• How will guardians become essential in the future? ( 5:26)
• How much will guardian agents cost? (7:31)
• When should a CIO consider buying a guardian agent? (8:31)
• Why will behavioral scientists be important for deploying guardian agents? (10:07)
• Will humans or guardian agents be accountable for AI decision making? (12:18)
• What other options can perform the same actions? (16:32)
• As an emerging market, when will the guardian agent market reach maturity? (21:00)

About the Guest

Daryl Plummer is a distinguished VP analyst and Gartner fellow. His research focuses on the strategic issues of cloud computing, digital disruption and the unfolding of the future through predictions, trends and evolving digital business cycles. He is a chief of research in the technology and service providers organization, where he helps oversee research across the four roles of general manager, product managers, product marketers and tech CEOs. In this role, he is responsible for the advancement of research and the promotion of the same to solve the critical problems of, and answer the key questions for, tech providers from engineers all the way up to and including the CEO and board of directors. Daryl is also chief of research for cloud computing and a primary analyst covering multiple strategic cloud topics. He focuses his research on the broad cloud service market, including market trends, forecasts, the cloud vendor landscape and cloud sourcing scenarios. He tracks different cloud usage cases, including public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud scenarios and is the originator of the topic of distributed cloud computing. Covering cloud strategy and evolution requires one to see how end user scenarios are evolving in the context of technology and service provider strategies that are producing cloud innovations at an ever-increasing speed. Daryl Plummer provides a perspective on the key phenomena which will drive the largest segments of change.

According to our research, executive turnover is high across the C-Suite, which means that your role as CIO will transition one way or another. Whether you’re transitioning or you’re working with a leader in transition, you’ll need to be prepared to adapt to change quickly.

In this episode of the CIO Mind Podcast, we interview Gartner Senior Executive Partner Tom Fuller to discuss how executives can successfully balance making quick impact while still learning the landscape.

For non Gartner clients, see more with 4 Secrets to Success for Executives Starting a New Role.

For Gartner clients, see our Executive FastStart Experience.

About the Guest

Tom Fuller is a senior executive partner at Gartner and specializes in CIO executive transitions, IT operating models, IT strategy and organizational effectiveness. He has worked in multiple sectors both in the U.K. and internationally, including retail, financial services, manufacturing and government. Prior to joining Gartner, he held senior leadership roles within the John Lewis Partnership’s IT organization and prior to that was a senior member of Deloitte’s IT Effectiveness team.

“The common feedback I get was always, ‘I didn't realize that there was so much I could do before I started.’ That surprised me.” — Tom Fuller, Senior Executive Partner, Gartner

Gartner research shows that nearly one out of four executives is in transition at any given time. However, 39% are underperforming in their transitions. Join host and Gartner VP Analyst, Alicia Mullery, and guest Tom Fuller, Gartner Senior Executive Partner, as they explore best practices — and common missteps — from CIOs who have successfully transitioned to new companies, industries or first-time roles.

Episode highlights:

• What does it mean when a CIO is “in transition”? (3:01)
• Who should CIOs speak with to determine the role's specific priorities? (9:37)
• Why is the CIO interview process often "more seduction than selection"? (11:46)
• How do you decide if a particular job is not a good fit for you? (14:06)
• What preparations should CIOs make before their first day? (14:41)
• What is the most productive mindset before starting a new job? (16:06)

For non-Gartner clients, see more with 4 Secrets to Success for Executives Starting a New Role. For Gartner clients, see our CIO Orientation Guide.

About the Guest

Tom Fuller is a Senior Executive Partner at Gartner and specializes in CIO executive transitions, IT operating models, IT strategy and organizational effectiveness. Tom has worked in multiple sectors both in the U.K. and internationally, including retail, financial services, manufacturing and government. Before Gartner, he held senior leadership roles within the John Lewis Partnership’s IT organization and prior to that was a senior member of Deloitte’s IT Effectiveness team.

“You can do all the training you want — it's not going to lead to behavior change.” — Alicia Mullery, Gartner VP Analyst

If employees are already largely overwhelmed with new initiatives, how can CIOs create a culture of continuous AI learning? The answers lie with senior leadership, management and some clever incentives. Join Gartner VP Analyst Alicia Mullery as she explains how CIOs can help staff use AI in their daily work and improve ROI.

• Episode highlights:
• Why isn't AI training enough to lead behavioral change? (2:24)
• What are the three parts of continuous AI learning? (3:18)
• What three elements can help AI learning go viral? (4:23)
• What do most CIOs miss when it comes to AI learning? (7:22)
• Why are managers critical for driving AI learning? (8:36)
• How can CIOs and staff make time to implement AI learning? (10:58)
• What should CIOs be thinking about next for their learning programs? (15:21)

About the Guest

Alicia Mullery is a vice president analyst supporting CIOs and other senior executives. Alicia’s research collaboration works to distill practical lessons from company accomplishments and missteps. She works to identify, build and then present best practice case studies that inspire executive action and decision making. Her recent areas of focus include the shift from projects to products, building fusion teams and safely democratizing digital delivery, transforming IT talent, building effective CIO/CxO partnerships and increasing the number of women in IT leadership. Alicia frequently facilitates executive-level discussions, including executive committee meetings, IT leadership team retreats and roundtables with CIOs and other senior executives. She is a keynote speaker at Gartner events and externally. Alicia is an American based in London, U.K. She brings a global perspective from her 15 years with Gartner, advising in North America, Europe and South Africa.

Being a good CIO doesn’t have to come at the price of being good to yourself. In fact, these two elements can work together to help CIOs achieve their new year’s resolutions, from managing cyber attacks to finding moments for peace and quiet. Join Gartner analysts Mary Mesaglio, Shanna Grafeld and Brandon Germer as they discuss how CIOs can meet their objectives this year with our research, 2025 CIO New Year’s Resolutions — How to Be Good (Enough).

Episode highlights:

• What is a professional resolution? (1:03)
• Why is being "good enough" important for CIOs? (2:26)
• Resolutions discussed:
  • Leading through movement (4:32)
  • Listening to silence (8:00)
  • Interviewing a hacked person (12:42)
• Why is setting resolutions useful for CIOs? (11:14)
• How can CIOs keep their resolutions throughout the year? (14:38)
• How does setting measurable goals make you unhappy? (17:59)
• What are the podcast guests' favorite resolutions for CIOs? (21:25)

“One of the perennial pieces of advice we give to anyone who's reading the research is: Don't do all the resolutions.” — Mary Mesaglio, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst (3:14 in this podcast)

About the Guests

Mary Mesaglio is a distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner. Her research focuses on how to help global enterprises execute transformations in the real world, with all the human behavioural messiness that real-world change implies. Mary works with enterprises on how to create clear principles, how to scale change messages, how to be rigorous about the behavioural side of transformation and how to make change real.

Shanna Grafeld is a senior principal analyst in Gartner’s global enterprise executive research practice and focuses on leadership and sustainability. Her leadership coverage includes psychological safety, multigenerational and multicultural leadership, conflict and change management. Her sustainability expertise includes setting and communicating sustainability strategy, organizational structures for sustainability and sustainable technology.

Brandon Germer is a senior director analyst in Gartner’s Office of the CIO Research. Brandon advises senior and executive business leaders on strategy, execution, product management and operating models through written research, conferences, workshops and one-to-one interaction.

“Pacing Yourself in the AI Races,” the 2024 IT Symposium/Xpo keynote, provided an inspiring vision for CIOs on delivering AI outcomes safely and at scale. In this episode of CIO Mind podcast, keynote presenters Alicia Mullery, Gartner VP Research, and Daryl Plummer, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst, Chief of Research and Gartner Fellow, join host ck Andrade, Gartner Sr. Director Analyst, to deep dive into the keynote’s concepts and identify how to move from inspiration to action. Join them to explore the differences between the AI steady and AI accelerated paces and the bumps in the road and the facilitators as CIOs take first steps in the CIO AI outcomes race. To learn more about the keynote, see Pacing Yourself in the AI Races: 2024 IT Symposium/Xpo Keynote Insights.

Episode Highlights

• The CIO AI outcomes race versus the tech vendor race. (1:20)
• Business, technology and behavioral outcomes for AI. (2:20)
• Choosing your pace: AI steady or AI accelerated? (04:05)
• Challenges to achieving AI outcomes. (8:06)
• Facilitators to achieving AI outcomes. (17:42)
• Next steps for CIOs in the AI outcomes race. (21:11)

Daryl Plummer is a Gartner Fellow, VP, and Distinguished Analyst. His research focuses on the strategic issues of cloud computing, digital disruption, and the unfolding of the future through predictions, trends and evolving digital business cycles. Daryl is a Chief of Research in the technology and service providers organization, where he helps oversee research across the four roles of general manager, product managers,product marketers, and tech CEOs.

Alicia Mullery is a Gartner Vice President, Research, supporting CIOs and other senior executives. Alicia’s research collaboration works to distill practical lessons from company accomplishments and missteps. She works to identify, build and then present best practice case studies that inspire executive action and decision making. Her recent areas of focus include the shift from projects to products, building fusion teams and safely democratizing digital delivery, transforming IT talent, building effective CIO/CxO partnerships, and increasing the number of women in IT leadership.

Episode highlights:

• Overview of Gartner’s 2025 Top Strategic Technology Trends (01:26)
• Why CIOs need the top strategic technology trends (02:46)
• Hybrid computing – The “Good” (05:05)
• Disinformation security – The “Bad” (07:55)
• Neurological enhancement – The “Wow!” (11:45)
• Use top strategic technology trends as early signals (15:00)
• What CIOs are saying about the 2025 trends (16:51)
• Pros and cons of the selected trends (17:59)
• Actions CIOs can take today to prepare for their technology futures (19:04)

About the Guest:

Gene Alvarez is a Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst, who helps clients with technology innovation and strategy topics such as CRM, Customer Experience, Composable Applications, Modernization, Digital Commerce Technologies, and trends and disruptions. He is the key initiative leader for Gartner's Technology Innovation and Strategy research agenda. Mr. Alvarez leads Gartner's Top Strategic Technology Trends research and is a member of Gartner's Top Strategic Predictions Team. Mr. Alvarez has over 40 years of business and IT experience leading business impact assessments, vendor management, project management, software development and delivery of complex business applications. He has spoken at many international events and industry-related conferences worldwide and has been published in various media and trade publications.

Episode highlights:

• Defining productivity (1:35)
• Why organizations struggle to drive productivity gains (4:21)
• How to address lack of digital preparation and maturity (8:45)
• How customized technology can increase productivity (12:45)
• How AI and the augmented worker will contribute to future productivity (15:25)
• Myth-busting 4 common beliefs about productivity (19:03)
• What falls under CIOs’ leadership versus other CxOs (22:02)
• The partnerships CIOs should pursue to boost productivity (24:36)
• How workers spend productivity gains (26:09)

AI and digitalization are revolutionizing work, yet the anticipated boost in efficiency and cost reduction remains elusive for many. Moreover, less than 14% of organizations can support new ways of working offered by emerging technologies. This means that even in the age of AI, productivity rates continue to stagnate across industries. Gartner VP analyst Tori Paulman joins host, Gabriela Vogel, to discuss this challenge’s causes and myths as well as the recent trend of employee-built technologies that may offer a solution.

About the Guest

Tori Paulman is a Gartner vice president analyst who advises clients on the leadership of digital employee experience and digital workplace strategies, the workplace experience application market, employee experience journey mapping, and strategies for successful hybrid teams. They focus on helping executives and their teams with the leadership, talent and cultural shifts needed to succeed today and in the future of work. Tori co-leads Gartner's cross functional team researching the future of work for executive leaders. In addition, Tori leads the biannual digital worker survey. Now in its sixth iteration, this survey is Gartner's signature view on workers’ experiences and sentiment on technology used for work.

The worldwide disruptions caused by a faulty CrowdStrike update in July 2024 highlighted the unpredictable nature of today’s digital threats, and reminded CIOs that such crises could affect any vendor. In this episode of CIO Mind, host Ed Gabrys is joined by Leigh McMullen to discuss the critical importance of proactive resilience strategies and the evolving relationship between CIOs and CISOs. Leigh offers invaluable insights on avoiding self-inflicted-harm during these incidents, the need for better basics like timely patching, and effective communication with the board about cybersecurity.

Leigh C. McMullen is a Distinguished Vice President, Analyst, and Gartner Fellow in security and risk management at Gartner. Leigh provides CISOs with insights on navigating the C-suite and making impactful decisions. He specializes in future operating models, cybersecurity strategy, business engagement, and leadership development.

“The competition in the market is so fierce, we can’t hire ourselves out of those talent shortage problems. We have to look inside and re-skill and upskill our talent faster.” — Lily Mok, VP, Gartner IT Strategy, Execution and Organization team

Despite waves of layoffs, hiring skilled IT talent remains a critical challenge — especially as 79% of organizations plan to increase IT staff levels in 2024. Listen now as Gartner IT Strategy expert Lily Mok explains how to effectively respond to the talent shortage and other key trends impacting CIOs’ strategies.

Episode Highlights: 

• AI and the future of work (1:29)
• The top trends affecting CIOs’ current and future strategies (4:29)
  • The cost-of-work crisis
  • Career growth opportunities
  • The global skills shortage
  • Employee engagement in the future of work
• How to address these trends and reduce talent shortage risks (8:29)
• How CIOs should develop talent (11:27)
• 3 crucial CIO insights for the future of work (21:29)

Lily Mok is a Gartner Vice President, Team Manager, working on the IT Strategy, Execution and Organization team. Lily focuses her research on helping CIOs and HR leaders develop strategies and programs to build a future-ready workforce. Lily has extensive experience in global HR and compensation consulting, and is a Certified Compensation Professional specialized in designing and developing employee reward strategy and programs.