Gartner Expert

Walker Black

Sr. Specialist, Analyst

Walker Black is a Sr. Specialist Analyst in the Emerging Technologies and Trends (ETT) Group, a center of excellence for Emerging Tech and Trends across Gartner. This group focuses on C-Level advice for providers, adopters, and innovation leaders. Research brands include Impact Radars, Emerging Tech Hype Cycles, Futures Lab, Tapestry, Top 10 Strategic Trends, Predicts, Maverick, Executive Bets and more. The group's mission is to hunt out the edge of emerging tech, trends and innovation to help strategy and innovation leaders decide if, when, and how to invest in and monetize key futures across emerging technologies and overall strategic trends. Walker's primary coverage and area of research focus include agentic AI, advanced reasoning models, DSLMs, AI markets and trends and other GenAI topics. He also covers intelligent simulation and digital twins, and physical AI. Additionally, Walker covers preemptive cybersecurity and the global attack surface grid.

Previous experience

Prior to joining Gartner, Walker completed his education in Economics and Business at Vanderbilt University.

Areas of coverage
  • Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact on Products and Services

  • AI, Automation and Emerging Technology

  • Track New AI Capabilities and Identify Emerging AI Opportunities and Threats

  • Scout for Emerging Technologies that can Accelerate Value

  • Identify and Prioritize Critical Emerging Technologies

Education

BA in Economics at Vanderbilt University, class of 2023

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Top Issues That I Help Clients Address

01

Investors - understanding emerging AI providers, trends and technologies and identifying market disruptors

02

Product leaders - developing strategies and plans for monetizing emerging technologies and trends

03

Product leaders - integrating emerging technologies into product roadmaps and service portfolios

04

Product leaders - developing go-to-market strategies and tactics, including target positioning, messaging, and marketing strategies

05

Product leaders - helping vendors differentiate their products and platforms, target new verticals and use cases, and target potential partnerships