Gartner ThinkCast

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297

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Gartner ThinkCast puts you at the intersection of business and technology with insights from the top experts on how to build a more successful organization, team and career in the Digital Era. Join us every Tuesday to get your competitive advantage. View all Gartner ThinkCast episodes at https://www.gartner.com/en/podcasts/thinkcast

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June 11, 202625 min

Get AI ROI Unstuck: From Productivity to True Business Value

AI is delivering pockets of productivity, but far less business value than expected. In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Distinguished VP Analyst Fran Karamouzis explores why so much AI ROI remains stuck inside organizations, never reaching the bottom line. While many leaders expect gains in individual productivity to translate directly into financial outcomes, legacy processes, siloed structures and outdated operating models often prevent that value from scaling. In a preview of a recent standout webinar, you'll hear what it really takes to unlock measurable impact — from rethinking how work flows across teams, to redesigning end‑to‑end processes, and leading the organizational change required to make AI stick. You'll learn: Why productivity gains alone don't guarantee financial returns Where AI value gets trapped inside workflows and operating models How to redesign work around end‑to‑end outcomes, not individual tasks What it takes to lead organizational change and consistently convert AI into ROI Dig deeper: Register to watch the full "Value is Trapped" webinar Learn how to prove quantifiable value from AI See why Gartner is the world authority on AI

June 4, 202624 min

The AI Services Split: From Digital to Phygital

AI is pushing the services industry into a new kind of competitive divide. In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Gartner experts Craig Lowery and Scott Frederick explore the growing split in AI services — where platform-driven, AI-enabled providers are accelerating ahead, and digital-only models are struggling to keep up. From autonomous agents and intelligent service delivery platforms to the rise of "phygital" experiences, they unpack how AI is moving beyond apps into real-world environments — and what that means for competition, growth and strategy. You'll learn: Why the AI services market is splitting and who's winning How AI agents and platforms enable "growth without growth" Why hyperscalers threaten digital-only service strategies Where "phygital" experiences create new competitive advantage Dig deeper: Download the Top 3 Priorities for Tech Services Leaders Learn more about Gartner for Tech Services Practice Leaders See why Gartner is the world authority on AI

May 28, 202622 min

The 2026 Hype Cycle for Agentic AI: What Leaders Need to Know

Agentic AI is likely the most hyped technology in enterprise IT, but its long-term potential is still just as real. In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Distinguished VP Analyst Rajesh Kandaswamy breaks down the 2026 Hype Cycle for Agentic AI — what it is, why it matters, and how leaders can separate real opportunity from market noise. From rising investment interest to the challenges of governance, integration and scale, this conversation unpacks where organizations are today — and what comes next. You'll learn: What Gartner Hype Cycles reveal and how to use them effectively Why agentic AI is at peak hype, but still early in adoption The real barriers to success: governance, guardrails and clean data How to identify high-value use cases and avoid "agent washing" Dig deeper: Download the full Hype Cycle for Agentic AI See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

May 21, 202627 min

Turn AI Risk Into a Resilience Advantage

AI adoption is accelerating fast, but so is enterprise risk. In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, Distinguished VP Analyst Paul Furtado explores the growing reality facing leaders: nearly every organization is investing in AI, yet most expect it to increase their risk profile. Drawing from real-world examples, Paul breaks down how AI can shift from a source of exposure to a powerful driver of resilience — reducing remediation time, improving threat detection, and strengthening fraud prevention. You'll learn: The three priorities leaders must get right: security, governance and talent How to focus on AI use cases that actually reduce risk What separates successful AI adoption from high-speed failure Dig deeper: Learn more and download the 2026 Gartner CIO Report Attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

May 14, 202627 min

Scaling Agentic AI: Why CIOs Can't Go It Alone

Agentic AI is already reshaping how work gets done, and the biggest risk for CIOs isn't failure, it's falling behind. In this episode of ThinkCast, Gartner VP Analyst Brandon Germer explains why scaling agentic AI can't be done in silos, and how CIOs must co-lead with other C-suite members to build the financial, operational, and governance foundations for enterprise-wide impact. You'll learn: Why the biggest risk in agentic AI isn't failure — it's waiting too long to act What it takes to scale AI beyond isolated use cases into enterprise-wide systems How to align the CIO, CFO, COO and CHRO around shared outcomes Why the CIO's role is shifting from technology owner to orchestrator Dig deeper: Download our guide to realizing AI value Attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

May 7, 202621 min

Inside the Top Cybersecurity Trends for 2026

AI is accelerating. Threats are evolving. And the pressure on cybersecurity leaders has never been higher. In this episode of ThinkCast, we explore the trends shaping 2026 — where AI adoption, agentic systems, and mounting regulation are pushing security programs to their limits and forcing CISOs to rethink how they operate and where they invest. Gartner experts Chiara Girardi and William Candrick break down the most critical shifts, from AI-powered social engineering and behavior risk, to automation in the Security Operations Center (SOC), postquantum urgency, and securing AI agents through modern identity strategies. You'll learn: Why AI is breaking traditional security awareness models How SOC teams must evolve without losing critical skills What "harvest now, decrypt later" means for your data How identity is becoming the control plane for AI agents Dig deeper: Watch the Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2026 webinar Download the full Top 8 Trends in Cybersecurity breakdown See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

April 28, 202618 min

The 4 Cs of Manager Communication: How to Build Trust, Clarity and Engagement

Managers are stretched thin, but remain the most powerful voice for employee trust. In this episode of ThinkCast, Gartner VP Analyst Alexandra Earl introduces the 4 C's of Manager Communication Competencies: Championing, Coaching, Conversing and Connecting. From helping employees link strategy to daily work, to creating true two-way dialogue, Alexandra outlines a clear framework to elevate communication and improve team engagement. You'll Learn: Why managers remain the most effective communication channel The 4 essential communication competencies every manager must build How contextualization helps employees see themselves in strategy Practical steps for self-assessment and peer support networks Dig deeper: Learn more about Gartner for Communication Leaders Benchmark yourself with the Gartner Communications Score Tool See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights This episode originally aired September 9, 2025

April 21, 202625 min

AI After the Hype: Why Scaling Value Means Quitting More

AI hype hasn't disappeared, but patience has. In this episode of ThinkCast, recorded from the Gartner CIO Leadership Forum Opening Keynote, Gartner VP Analyst Tori Paulman breaks down why many AI initiatives stall after early wins — and what separates CIOs who move through the hype from those who fail to generate lasting value. Hear why organizations making real progress with AI aren't chasing the next breakthrough use case. Instead, they're changing how they decide what to stop, when to quit, where to double down, and how to lead through the Trough of Disillusionment. You'll learn: How CIOs who deliver value decide when to persist, pivot, or pull the plug What it really means to scale AI beyond pilots and proofs of concept Why "quitting better" is a leadership skill — not a failure How to move from AI hype toward an AI‑shaped organization Dig deeper: Download our guide to realizing AI value Attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

April 14, 202624 min

The "AI-Free" Trust Disruption: Backlash or the Future of Responsible AI?

AI is now everywhere, but trust is breaking down just as fast. As synthetic content floods our feeds and workflows, leaders face a new question: when does AI help, and when does it quietly undermine credibility? In this episode of ThinkCast, Gartner Senior Director Analyst Deepak Seth returns to explore a growing counter‑movement: the rise of "AI‑free" trust. From content labels that signal human creation to new expectations around AI governance, Deepak breaks down why trust — not capability — is becoming the defining challenge of the next AI era. You'll learn: Why "AI‑free" could become the new organic label for content and brands How trust, provenance and context shape responsible AI use What recent high‑profile failures reveal about over‑automation risks How CIOs can build guardrails without stalling innovation Dig deeper: Watch the 7 Disruptions You Might Not See Coming Become a client to learn more about AI governance, trust and risk See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

April 7, 202631 min

The AI Upskill Most Teams Are Overlooking

Most AI initiatives don't fail because the technology is wrong; they fail because the humans around it stop thinking as carefully as they used to. In this episode of ThinkCast, recorded from a live session at Gartner CIO Leadership Forum, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Mandi Bishop breaks down why so‑called "soft skills" have quietly become the hardest — and most essential — capability to scale in the age of AI. From practical workforce exercises to Mandi's own racing experience, hear how over‑reliance, complacency and automation bias creep in — and how CIOs can rebuild critical thinking, judgment and contextual awareness to turn AI tools into true performance accelerators. You'll learn: Why automation bias is one of the biggest hidden risks in AI adoption How soft skills like skepticism and judgment directly impact AI outcomes Why hands‑on techniques, like hallucination hunts, can build real AI literacy How better prompting reinforces human thinking instead of replacing it What CIOs can do now to operationalize soft skills across the enterprise Dig deeper: Attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you See why Gartner is the world authority on AI Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights