AI is reshaping software engineering with far-reaching impact on how teams are structured, the ways work gets done, and what is built and delivered. AI-enabled tools and technologies are becoming integral to development and advanced AI capabilities are now expected in new software. For software engineering leaders, preparing their teams to deliver new value in an AI-driven future, this eBook reveals two of the six Gartner positions on how AI will reshape software engineering by 2030 with actionable guidance for each.
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Lead, Innovate and Optimize Your Software Engineering Teams to Drive Impact
Insights, resources and tools equip software engineering leaders to deliver scalable, secure digital products.
Software Engineering 2030: The Impact of AI
Trending insights and tools for software engineering leaders
Objective research
Boost collaboration, link technical execution to data and align staffing practices to your IT operating model by strengthening executive leadership collaboration.
Tools and diagnostics
Software Engineering Score gives you a custom, on-demand view of your function’s performance and maturity versus a benchmark peer group, and enables you to plot your improvement path.
Expert guidance
Tap into the experience and knowledge of more than 2,200 experts, including software engineering practitioners who can help you optimize your strategy, operations and tactics.
Connect with peers
Join us at the Gartner Application Innovation & Business Solutions Summit to gain insight on emerging trends and create a strategy to tackle your priorities head on.
Insights to accelerate growth
Increase influence across the executive board by breaking out of silos
CEO
70% of digital investments by 2025 will fail to deliver the expected business outcomes due to improper planning and execution.
As CEOs look to develop digital initiatives that have the greatest impact for the business, they are relying on software engineering leaders for technical support. Executive and software leaders must work together to ensure they are aligned on prioritizing people and resources to deliver on mission-critical initiatives.
Client-only access: Choose the Right Approach for Application Modernization and Cloud Migration
CMO
70% of companies don’t regain their prerecession growth rate following a downturn.
CMOs are often tasked with owning the large-scale, customer-facing digital initiatives to support business growth and the technical budgets associated with them. Whether the software engineering leader is reporting into the CMO or is a partner and peer, their role in bringing these new digital touchpoints to market and that vision to life is critical.
Client-only access: How to Use KPIs to Measure the Business Value of APIs
Head of Risk/CISO
By 2025, one in two organizations worldwide will have experienced an attack on their software development.
Dramatic increases in digital investment bring increased cyber risk. It's essential that CISOs and software engineering leaders work closely together and take the best preventative measures throughout the building process to ensure security is a priority.
Client-only access: Extend Software Engineering Security Practices for AI Applications
Head of Product
Product management ensures engineering teams are building the right product, providing input and feedback on market needs and prioritization, while software engineering leaders ensure those teams are building products right, by driving innovation and delivering greater value. Whether they’e on the same team or cross-department collaborators, it’s a critical partnership for product-centric development and delivery.
Client-only access: Optimize Your Product Portfolio for Product-Centric Software Delivery
User Experience/ Design UX
User experience/design professionals (UX/design pros) work either as cross-functional partners or as members of the product team to drive better user experiences — often a top priority for software engineering leaders. When these two roles partner effectively, they can set realistic expectations for production, keep up with demand and manage limited resourcing, while driving toward digital growth.
Client-only access: Five Trends Shaping the Future of UX and AX in 2026
CDAO
The CDAO and software engineering leader relationship often delivers most of the value of IT to the organization. Software engineering work provides the foundation to enable data and analytics across various business functions. D&A then provides key insights for AI/machine learning modeling and informs decisions on risk, credit, marketing promotions and sales acceleration. Whether on the same team or outsourcing, these groups must work in tandem to connect technical execution with data and strengthen business strategies.
Client-only access: Use AI and Non-AI Techniques to Generate Synthetic Data for Software Testing
What Gartner clients say
How Gartner clients have achieved success
- Ford Pro
- Hargreaves Lansdown
Developing an API Strategy at Ford Pro
John Musser
Director of Engineering
Company: Ford Pro at Ford Motor Companys
Industry: Manufacturing
Employees: >150,000
Developing an API Strategy at Ford Pro
Matt Bonetti
Head of Digital Colleague Experience
Company: Hargreaves Lansdown
Industry: Financial Services
Employees: >2,000
Drive stronger performance on your mission-critical priorities.