Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2025 APAC: Day 1 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, taking place this week on the Gold Coast, Australia. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. 

On Day 1 of the conference, we are covering sessions on autonomous business; agentic AI ending UX as we know it; a CIO cybersecurity playbook; and the AI future of leadership and management.

• Gartner Forecasts IT Spending in Australia to Exceed $172 Billion in 2026

Presented by Don Scheibenreif, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner

After a decade of digital transformation, organizations are now facing new disruption from AI. As AI and automation reshape competition, customers, products, operations and leadership, what will the future of business look like? In this session, Don Scheibenreif, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, outlined the next phase: autonomous business.

• “Autonomous business is a force multiplier. Go beyond technology leadership to create space for business innovation – this helps the CEO and board anticipate what’s next.”
• “Augmented workforce means greater impact. Identify roles that can benefit from AI-driven adaptive training to accelerate onboarding and support continuous learning.”
• “AI-powered products are raising consumer expectations. Automate product development with AI to drive innovation and unlock new revenue streams.”
• “Machine customers are increasing, so start preparing digital commerce platforms to handle inquiries and transactions from AI agents.”
• “The programmable economy will monetize new forms of value. Engage in developing and adopting fintech to support emerging economic exchanges.”

Presented by Olive Huang, VP Analyst, Gartner

Agentic AI is poised to revolutionize approaches to UX and UI development, changing the experiences users expect from software. This will raise the bar for delivering user satisfaction to new levels. In this session, Olive Huang, VP Analyst at Gartner, discussed how AI agents will manipulate software for users and how IT leaders can keep their products competitive and user-friendly.

• “Today, we use apps, forms, data and websites to complete tasks. In the future, we’ll interact mainly with AI agents instead."
• “By 2027, CRM users will reduce their screen time by 50%, driven by AI-enhanced GUIs, AI assistants, productivity tool integrations and AI agents.”
• “If apps are hard to find or use, there will be a drop in usage as AI agents choose easier, intent-based solutions for UX.”
• “Robust, standards-based UIs work better with AI agents than custom-built ones – don’t reinvent the wheel. Consider open source, platform and proprietary design systems.”
• “Accessibility best practices also help AI agents. Instruct frontend engineers to scan for accessibility compliance and remediate faults.”

Presented by Craig Lawson, VP Analyst, Gartner

CIOs play a critical role in cybersecurity readiness. In this session, Craig Lawson, VP Analyst at Gartner, outlined the aspects of security that fall under a CIO's responsibility and influence, covering the operating model, board engagement, balancing security with IT operations, and investing in security to support business growth.

• “Position cyber risk as a business decision. Build a sustainable cybersecurity program that balances the value of protection against the needs of running the business.”
• “Balance protection with business needs by using stakeholder defensibility as a guide and negotiate risk appetite through protection-level agreements.”
• “Stay current with regulatory requirements and check the boxes as part of balancing protection with business needs.”
• “Measure cybersecurity outcomes to manage priorities, investments and execution.”
• “Manage board, executive and CISO relationships through outcome-based reporting.”

Presented by Kristin Moyer, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner

Is AI going to replace executives and managers? Are entry-level workers even needed anymore because of AI? In this session, Kristin Moyer, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, cut through the hype of how AI will really impact leadership and management.

• “The most likely optimal future is not AI; it is humans plus AI. Experience still matters – humans have wisdom that AI lacks
• AI as a mentor: “Junior employees risk falling behind without AI-powered training wheels, so use AI to simulate skills development. Gartner predicts 75% of employees will first be trained and coached by AI when entering a new role by 2028.”
• AI as a reviewer: “AI should augment, not replace, managers. Use it to reduce mundane tasks and boost manager effectiveness.”
• AI as a sounding board: “AI doesn’t benefit all employees equally, but it does turn good leaders into unstoppable powerhouses. Use it to expand executive capabilities and capacity.

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with the Gartner expert by contacting Emma Keen at emma.keen@gartner.com.