Disruption doesn’t always arrive with a bang. Oftentimes, it’s the ripple effects that redefine industries. In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Distinguished VP Analyst Daryl Plummer joins host Karen Stokes Lockhart to explore how leaders can better recognize, prioritize and respond to disruption. From the rapid rise of generative AI to shifts in energy infrastructure and the emergence of guardian agents, Plummer shares key insights on how to decode the difference between hype and meaningful transformation.

Tune in to discover:

• Why recognizing the secondary effects of disruption is key to long-term strategy
• How leaders can use self-disruption to overcome organizational inertia
• How to apply the framework of “Recognize, Prioritize, Respond”

Dig deeper:

• Attend the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2025 conference
• Watch the full 7 Disruptions Through 2029 You Might Not See Coming
• Explore Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2025

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we explore how generative AI is moving from experimentation to everyday value — and what IT leaders must do to drive meaningful transformation at scale.

Recorded live from Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference, Gartner Director Analyst Autumn Stanish lays out a vision for the next year: one where generative AI enhances productivity, infrastructure is AI-ready and the digital employee experience (DEX) becomes a strategic priority.

Tune in to discover:

• Why focusing on everyday generative AI use cases can unlock immediate value
• How to design AI-human workflows that drive productivity and build trust
• What top-performing organizations are doing to advance DEX maturity
• How to align your IT strategy with evolving CIO expectations

Dig Deeper

• Read the 3 key trends for I&O leaders
• Register to attend Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference
• Watch more from the Opening Keynote

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we explore how to build enterprise resilience amid economic headwinds, technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty.

Gartner Chief of Research Chris Howard returns with actionable insights from our Top of Mind video series. Drawing parallels between aviation and organizational strategy, he outlines how resilient enterprises forecast better, model smarter and architect for adaptability. Discover why AI is more than just a productivity tool and how leaders can use it to unlock transformational growth.

Tune in to discover:

• Why architecture and simulation are essential for surviving disruptive forces
• How AI enables better decisions under pressure
• When complexity becomes an input to intelligence
• What “pilot purgatory” is and how to break free
• Why antifragile supply chains and talent strategies matter more than ever

Dig Deeper:

• Download the 10 rules for rapid IT cost cuts
• Register to attend Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™
• Clients, read more on AI value beyond productivity
• Watch more Gartner Top of Mind episodes

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we explore what customer experience looks like in 2025 — 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 the Conference: Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™

https://gtnr.it/3UpD6Ei 

Register for the Webinar: Explore the Impact of AI on Customer Experience in Your Organization

https://gtnr.it/4myNki0 

Watch for More Insights: When Machines Become Customers

https://gtnr.it/4mwGCsL 

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we dive into what strong leadership really looks like when the path ahead is unclear. From economic disruption to AI-fueled transformation, uncertainty is becoming a defining feature of the business landscape.

Gartner expert Mary Mesaglio returns with quick insights from her Top of Mind series to offer a timely playbook. Drawing from conversations with CEOs, CIOs and senior leadership around the globe, Mary shares three practical strategies for leading through volatility, ambiguity and change. Learn why clear communication, hyper-focused priorities and transparent guiding principles are the essential tools every executive and new leader needs today.

Tune in to discover:

• Why corporate-speak fails in times of change and what to say instead

• The 10x10x10 rule for reinforcing priorities with your team

• How guiding principles offer stability and direction

Dig Deeper

Read and Download Now: Disruptive Technologies You’re Probably Unprepared For

Register to Attend: CIO Conferences and Events 2025

Watch More: Gartner Top of Mind

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we dive into the transformative impact of technology disruptors set to reshape business landscapes in 2025 and beyond. 

Straight from his recent webinar on the “12 Emerging Technologies That Will Redefine the Future of Business,” Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Bill Ray explores a few of the most important of these disruptive technologies, and how leaders should begin to respond to both mitigate risk and roadmap for competitive advantage.

Tune in to understand:

• The shift towards specialized language models

• The integration of generative AI in enterprise interactions

• The evolution of cybersecurity strategies

• Why polyfunctional robots are outpacing humanoid designs

• The growing threat of disinformation and its implications for InfoSec strategies

• How energy constraints might affect data center expansions

Dig Deeper

Watch the Full Webinar Now: 12 Emerging Technologies That Will Redefine the Future of Business

Register and Attend: CIO Conferences and Events 2025

Watch Full Video Episodes: Gartner ThinkCast on YouTube

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we check in on one of the most unique and personal pieces of Gartner research: the annual CIO resolutions. Nearly midway through the year, are tech leaders still aligned with the ambitions they set in January?

In a quick sampling pulled from our Top of Mind video insights, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Mary Mesaglio provides a timely update on how CIOs can stay grounded amid the whirlwind of 2025 priorities. From turning regret into growth and negotiating AI-infused vendor contracts, to defining personal AI ethics and staying close to emerging technologies, this episode is a powerful reminder of what good looks like — for your people, your business and yourself.

Dig Deeper

Read and Download Now: Resolutions for CIOs: What Good Looks Like in 2025

https://gtnr.it/4iLxIEL 

Register and Attend: CIO Conferences and Events 2025

https://gtnr.it/3UpD6Ei 

Be AI-Ready: What IT Leaders Need to Know and Do

https://gtnr.it/4k2GLlE 

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

Read and Download Now: Build, Buy or Blend? Deploying AI in Your Organization

https://gtnr.it/4lS07M4 

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we dive into the concept of counterfeit reality, where AI-generated content blurs the line between what’s real and what isn’t.

Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Daryl Plummer, who is not only an expert in the field but also coined the term “counterfeit reality,” explores the risks and opportunities that deepfakes, synthetic data and AI avatars will present in the coming years. From the potential for increased creativity and innovation to the pitfalls of reduced confidence in brand integrity, Daryl offers practical insights for executive leaders to navigate this quickly evolving landscape.

This episode originally aired October 2024

Dig Deeper

Read Now: Protect Your Organization From Disinformation Campaigns

https://gtnr.it/3UcowA7 

Watch Now: 7 Disruptions Through 2029 You Might Not See Coming

https://gtnr.it/44yD9U2 

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we dive into what it means for organizations as machine tools become our teammates.

As the final part of our three-part Top of Mind series on the AI outcomes that matter, Distinguished VP Analyst Mary Mesaglio explores the evolving human-machine relationship, and why behavioral outcomes should be treated with the same attention and rigor as both business and technology outcomes.

Tune in to learn how leaders and organizations can navigate the complexities of AI outcomes to succeed over the following year and beyond

Dig Deeper

Learn More: How AI Will Impact Your Workforce

https://gtnr.it/4jsVTIN 

Watch Now: Gartner Top of Mind

https://gtnr.it/4iCiAKT