Gartner Data & Analytics Summit 2026 London: Day 1 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit, taking place this week in London, U.K. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference.

On Day 1 of the conference, we are examining how to improve data governance, exploring the future of AI, and sharing some key results from Gartner annual chief data and analytics officer (CDAO) agenda survey. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.

Presented by Sally Parker, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner

There are key reasons organizations struggle with effective data governance. In this session, Sally Parker, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner, explained what consistently goes wrong and offered practical solutions to help make data governance work.

• “Organizations with low data governance maturity are significantly more likely to be among those that will fail to realize AI value in the near future.”

• Practical ways to improve data governance:

  • “Understand the purpose behind data governance in the organization. D&A leaders should start by identifying business outcomes first.”

  • “Deliver incremental value. Focus effort on prioritized business outcomes to accelerate ROI and minimize the required effort.”

  • “Rebrand governance as a team sport to help secure the necessary participants’ involvement in data governance activities.”

  • “Embed governance and culture activity into business workstreams as part of normal operations. Only 26% of organizations incorporate culture and communication into their D&A governance strategy.”

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with Sally Parker by contacting Laurence Goasduff at laurence.goasduff@garner.com.

Presented by Leinar Ramos, VP Analyst, Gartner

AI is moving faster than ever, with AI techniques that should bring adaptability to an uncertain world in constant flux. However, despite its extraordinary power and early promises, recent advances in AI have not been leveraged to its full potential. In this session, Leinar Ramos, VP Analyst at Gartner, discussed what AI should do for us to deliver the value that we are expecting.

• “The fact that we only have a limited understanding about intelligence is also illustrated by the fact that many people, including renowned scientists and experts, have very different opinions about the reality of true artificial intelligence.”

• Future of AI Trend 1: AI on Steroids: “Scalable AI that benefits from massive compute power.”

• Future AI Trend 2: Composite & Neurosymbolic AI: “AI composed of multiple data-driven and knowledge-driven techniques.” 

• “As AI evolves, use it to enable ever more sophisticated business solutions—well beyond productivity improvement.”

• “Do not rely only on a single AI approach and keep an open mind for alternative and emerging AI approaches beyond predictive, generative and agentic AI.”

Journalists can receive additional information, including all seven future AI trends, and/or request an interview with Leinar Ramos by contacting Laurence Goasduff at laurence.goasduff@gartner.com.