5 Insights CIOs Shouldn’t Ignore — From Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2025

“Avoid the extremes of disbelief and hype regarding AI. Walk the Golden Path of AI readiness and human readiness to find, capture and sustain AI value.” — VP Analyst Alicia Mullery and Daryl Plummer, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst, Chief of Research and Fellow

In the opening keynote, Distinguished VP Analyst, Chief of Research and Fellow Daryl Plummer and VP Analyst Alicia Mullery urged CIOs to move beyond binary thinking about AI — neither succumbing to the hype nor dismissing its potential. The “Golden Path” is a strategic journey that balances technical AI readiness with often-overlooked human readiness. CIOs must appoint dedicated AI leaders, uncover hidden costs and prepare for emerging digital nation states. But the real differentiator lies in cultivating critical skills and managing behavioral shifts across the workforce. As autonomous business models loom on the horizon, organizations that align human capability with AI strategy will be best positioned to capture and sustain long-term value.

“The top strategic tech trends for 2026 represent more than technology shifts; they are catalysts for driving responsible innovation, operational excellence and digital trust.” — Gene Alvarez, Distinguished VP Analyst

In this forward-looking session, Distinguished VP Analyst Gene Alvarez and VP Analyst Tori Paulman outlined the technologies that will shape enterprise strategy through 2026. From AI supercomputing platforms that eliminate infrastructure complexity to multiagent systems enabling seamless collaboration between humans and intelligent agents, the trends signal a shift toward modular, adaptive architectures. Physical AI brings intelligence into the real world, while preemptive cybersecurity reframes protection as prediction. CIOs must not only track these innovations — they must harness them to architect resilient, future-ready organizations.

“Top performing technology executives have three things in common: the ability to be agile in their platforms and people; the ability to manage risk; and the ability to be tenacious, to see things through to the end, to get value and to keep going.” — Chris Howard, Distinguished VP Analyst and Chief of Research

In a time of flat budgets and rising expectations, Chief of Research Chris Howard challenged CIOs to rethink what drives leadership success. The 2026 agenda isn’t necessarily about owning more of the portfolio, it’s about executing with precision. Gartner’s research shows that agility, risk management and tenacity are the traits that separate top performers from the rest. CIOs must pivot dynamically, anticipate geopolitical shifts in AI and data sovereignty and translate productivity gains into financial impact. With AI investments rising sharply — 33% for generative AI and 32% for traditional AI — the pressure is on to deliver real outcomes. The message is clear: CIOs are in control of their leadership effectiveness by fostering the ability to adapt, protect and persist.

“Treating AI like a wizard could set us back 10 years.” — Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst, Chief of Research and Fellow

In this annual predictions session, Distinguished VP Analyst, Chief of Research and Fellow Daryl Plummer laid out a provocative roadmap for CIOs navigating the next wave of AI disruption. From the erosion of critical-thinking skills to the rise of region-specific AI platforms, the message was clear: The future will reward those who prepare today. Enterprises must brace for a world where AI agents dominate customer interactions and B2B procurement, pushing trillions through machine-mediated exchanges. Legal claims tied to AI misuse are expected to surge, underscoring the need for robust governance and contingency planning. Gartner’s call to action? Design for AI agents, not humans — and ensure your products are machine readable to unlock new markets. The predictions aren’t just forecasts; they’re strategic imperatives.

“Autonomous business is a strategy that uses self-improving, adaptable technology to make decisions, take action and create new types of value.” — Frank Buytendijk, Distinguished VP Analyst and Fellow, Chief of Research, Gartner Futures Lab

In an exploration of what’s to come, Chief of Research Frank Buytendijk challenged CIOs to look beyond tactical AI deployments and toward a new strategic north star: autonomous business. This vision blends a whole host of technologies, including embodied AI agents, digital twins and tokenization technologies to create self-adaptive organizations. Gartner predicts that by 2035, at least one industry’s market leader will be an autonomous business. But this isn’t about replacing people, it’s about transforming roles. Operational work becomes oversight, and the human side of business remains essential. Frank emphasised that transformation, in essence, is becoming a better version of yourself, and that starts not with technology, but with self-reflection. Ask yourself what you stand for, what you believe in, what customer value you create. Begin with a vision — and with a clear understanding that every organization is, at its core, a social construct. CIOs are urged to look beyond incremental improvement with AI, but to make the leap to the next level: autonomous business.

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