We are bringing you news and highlights from Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, taking place this week in Barcelona, Spain. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference.
On Day 1 from the conference, we are highlighting the Gartner opening keynote presentation, top 10 strategic technology trends, Gartner’s key predictions for 2024 and beyond, and exploring how CIOs can master persuasive leadership. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.
Presented by Mary Mesaglio, Distinguished VP Analyst and Gabriela Vogel, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Generative AI has burst onto the scene, unleashing both possibilities and threats for CIOs everywhere and raising questions that range from the metaphysical to the tactical. In the Gartner Opening Keynote, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Mary Mesaglio and Gartner Sr Director Analyst Gabriela Vogel explored how CIOs can meet these questions head on to stay out in front in this new era of human-machine relationships.
“AI – and especially generative AI – is part of a larger shift in how humans and machines interact. Machines are evolving from being our tools to becoming our teammates.”
Gartner predicts that by 2025, GenAI will be a workforce partner for 90% of companies worldwide.
“AI comes in two flavors: Everyday AI is focused on productivity, making us do what we already do faster and more efficiently. Game-changing AI is focused on creativity: creating whole new types of value, new products, new services, new business models and even new industries.”
“To do game changing AI, three tough conditions have to be met. You will need a lot of risk tolerance, a lot of executive patience and boat-loads of money.”
“In this new realm of human to machine interaction, where we talk to machines, they talk to us and we listen, there will be all sorts of unforeseen consequences. This means you need to think ahead of time about what lines you won’t cross.”
“If you don't have an AI vision, you don't have an AI ambition.”
Learn more in the Gartner press release "Gartner Says CIOs Must Prioritize Their AI Ambition and AI-Ready Scenarios for Next 12-24 Months."
Presented by Chris Howard, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Success in times of economic and social volatility requires technology and business leaders to decide how to make the best possible use of new technology developments. In this presentation, Chris Howard, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, shared how CIOs and other IT executives can explore and selectively use strategic technology trends to help ensure success.
“The top trends this year fall into three broad themes: Protect Your Investment, Rise of the Builders and Deliver the Value.”
Sustainable Technology: “86% of organizations consider sustainable use of technology a protective investment that helps resilience.
Intelligent Applications: “Optimize and automate decision-making through actively intelligent applications that have generative and other AI functions embedded as a default of their architecture.”
Democratized Generative AI: “Both accessibility of massively trained models via APIs, and the parallel productivity of the open source community, bring AI to every worker in the world.”
Augmented-Connected Workforce: “Organizations can use the data from connected workers to help augment and adjust their onboarding, training, performance and well-being.”
Machine Customers: “CIOs must lead the construction of the platforms capable of serving machine customer markets, which are prognosed to add several trillions in additional revenues by 2030.”
Learn about 5 more strategic trends and additional details on each one in the Gartner press release “Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2024.”
Presented by Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
In 2023, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) unleashed massive creativity and productivity potential. This was the first full year with GenAI at the heart of every strategic discussion. In this session, Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, unveiled ten predictions that will demonstrate how GenAI can pervade any topic.
In 2026, 30% of workers will leverage digital charisma filters to achieve previously unattainable advances in their careers. “Use AI to expand the neurodiverse talent pool. Create a policy to avoid inequalities from shadow use.”
By 2027, the productivity value of AI will be recognized as a primary economic indicator of national power. “AI is part of national strategy and shifts the labor power balance.”
By 2027, 25% of Fortune 500 companies will actively recruit neurodiverse talent across conditions like autism, ADHD and dyslexia to improve business performance. “Neurodiversity offers a competitive advantage of unique skill sets and viewpoints that drive innovation.”
By 2026, 50% of G20 members will experience monthly electricity rationing, turning energy-aware operations into either a competitive advantage or a major failure risk. “The future of electricity is not ‘always on.’ Electricity demand is growing but on brittle infrastructure.”
By 2027, GenAI tools will reduce modernization costs by 70% by explaining legacy business applications and facilitating faster replacements. “Large language models will understand legacy codes better and GenAI assisted coding will reduce replacement effort.”
Learn about 5 additional top predictions in the Gartner press release “Gartner Unveils Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users in 2024 and Beyond.”
Presented by Alicia Mullery, VP Research, Gartner
What makes a great CIO? Beyond technical experience and knowledge of the business, CIOs must be persuasive. In this session, Alicia Mullery, VP Research at Gartner, explored three areas that CIOs must master to be a persuasive leader.
There are three rules of persuasive leadership
Less is more
Emotions drive decisions
Data and stories are not exclusive
Rule #1: More is not better. Do not let your audience find gaps in your argument.
“Identify your strongest argument when persuading your audience.”
Rule #2: Humans are persuaded with stories that speak to their emotions.
“Focus on the emotive elements of your argument to drive decision-making.”
Rule #3: Data alone doesn’t change behavior.
“Data complements your story, not the other way around. Remember, story first, data second.”
“In a study on retaining information, 63% of students remembered stories, while only 5% remembered statistics.”
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight that drives smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities. To learn more, visit gartner.com.
Laurence Goasduff
Gartner
laurence.goasduff@gartner.com
