• 28 minutes 31 seconds
    Start With AI Literacy: Why Most Leaders Are Missing the Point

    AI isn't failing. AI literacy is.

    Nearly half of CEOs say their AI investments are breaking even at best. In this episode of ThinkCast, Gartner Distinguished Vice President Analyst Mandi Bishop explains why the biggest barrier to AI value isn't the technology — it's people's ability to work effectively with it. Learn how critical thinking, prompt discipline and AI literacy can improve adoption, reduce risk and unlock better business outcomes.

    You'll learn:

    • Why AI literacy — not more AI tools — is the foundation for AI success
    • How prompt discipline can improve output quality and reduce AI costs
    • The critical thinking skills employees need to work effectively alongside AI
    • Practical steps leaders can take to drive sustained AI adoption and value

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    23 July 2026, 9:00 am
  • 25 minutes 22 seconds
    AI Needs People: Why CIOs Are Rethinking the Productivity Play

    Many companies cut talent in pursuit of AI value. Now they're discovering what was lost in the process.

    In this episode, we explore a shift taking place in organizations' AI journeys: after an initial rush to pursue productivity gains and cost savings, many leaders are rediscovering that human expertise is essential to realizing AI's full value. Gartner Senior Executive Partner Denise McCurdy joins us to share what she's hearing directly from CIOs as they navigate mounting pressure to deliver AI outcomes, implement agentic AI and prepare for new operating models — all while preserving the people, knowledge and relationships that drive lasting transformation.

    You'll learn:

    • Why productivity gains alone rarely create lasting AI value
    • The difference between "blue money" and "green money" outcomes
    • How organizations are rehiring talent they initially replaced
    • Why CIOs must deepen collaboration with CFOs and business leaders

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    9 July 2026, 9:00 am
  • 27 minutes 31 seconds
    How Executives Actually Talk About AI

    In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, we explore how executive conversations about AI are rapidly evolving — and why focusing on ROI alone is no longer enough. Drawing from his standout session from Gartner CIO Leadership Forum, VP Analyst Nate Suda unpacks three distinct C-suite perspectives shaping AI strategy today: value, workforce and operating philosophy.

    You'll learn:

    • The three critical AI conversations happening across the C-suite
    • Why ROI is no longer a sufficient measure of AI success
    • How "human-plus" work and shifting team boundaries are reshaping the organization
    • What defines an AI-shaped enterprise and how to start thinking like one

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    25 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 9 minutes 27 seconds
    The 3 Practices for Leading Through Uncertainty

    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 now a defining feature of the business landscape.

    Gartner expert Mary Mesaglio returns to offer a succinct and 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.

    You'll learn:

    • 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

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    18 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 25 minutes 6 seconds
    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

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    11 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 24 minutes 18 seconds
    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

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    4 June 2026, 9:00 am
  • 22 minutes 14 seconds
    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"

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    28 May 2026, 9:00 am
  • 27 minutes
    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

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    21 May 2026, 6:03 am
  • 27 minutes 41 seconds
    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

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    14 May 2026, 12:35 pm
  • 21 minutes 23 seconds
    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

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    7 May 2026, 9:00 am
  • 18 minutes 34 seconds
    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

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    This episode originally aired September 9, 2025

    28 April 2026, 1:19 pm
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