Gartner ThinkCast

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
 
Dig deeper:
Watch the Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2026 webinar
Download the full Top 8 Trends in Cybersecurity breakdown
See why Gartner is the world authority on AI
Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

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


Dig deeper:
Learn more about Gartner for Communication Leaders
Benchmark yourself with the Gartner Communications Score Tool
See why Gartner is the world authority on AI
Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights
 
This episode originally aired September 9, 2025

AI hype hasn't disappeared, but patience has. 
In this episode of ThinkCast, recorded from the Gartner CIO Leadership Forum Opening Keynote, Gartner VP Analyst Tori Paulman breaks down why many AI initiatives stall after early wins — and what separates CIOs who move through the hype from those who fail to generate lasting value.
Hear why organizations making real progress with AI aren't chasing the next breakthrough use case. Instead, they're changing how they decide what to stop, when to quit, where to double down, and how to lead through the Trough of Disillusionment.
 
You'll learn:
How CIOs who deliver value decide when to persist, pivot, or pull the plug
What it really means to scale AI beyond pilots and proofs of concept
Why "quitting better" is a leadership skill — not a failure
How to move from AI hype toward an AI‑shaped organization



Dig deeper:
Download our guide to realizing AI value
Attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you
See why Gartner is the world authority on AI
Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

AI is now everywhere, but trust is breaking down just as fast. As synthetic content floods our feeds and workflows, leaders face a new question: when does AI help, and when does it quietly undermine credibility?
In this episode of ThinkCast, Gartner Senior Director Analyst Deepak Seth returns to explore a growing counter‑movement: the rise of "AI‑free" trust. From content labels that signal human creation to new expectations around AI governance, Deepak breaks down why trust — not capability — is becoming the defining challenge of the next AI era.
 
You'll learn:
Why "AI‑free" could become the new organic label for content and brands
How trust, provenance and context shape responsible AI use
What recent high‑profile failures reveal about over‑automation risks
How CIOs can build guardrails without stalling innovation




Dig deeper:
Watch the 7 Disruptions You Might Not See Coming
Become a client to learn more about AI governance, trust and risk
See why Gartner is the world authority on AI
Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights

Most AI initiatives don't fail because the technology is wrong; they fail because the humans around it stop thinking as carefully as they used to.
In this episode of ThinkCast, recorded from a live session at Gartner CIO Leadership Forum, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst Mandi Bishop breaks down why so‑called "soft skills" have quietly become the hardest — and most essential — capability to scale in the age of AI. From practical workforce exercises to Mandi's own racing experience, hear how over‑reliance, complacency and automation bias creep in — and how CIOs can rebuild critical thinking, judgment and contextual awareness to turn AI tools into true performance accelerators.



You'll learn:
Why automation bias is one of the biggest hidden risks in AI adoption
How soft skills like skepticism and judgment directly impact AI outcomes
Why hands‑on techniques, like hallucination hunts, can build real AI literacy
How better prompting reinforces human thinking instead of replacing it
What CIOs can do now to operationalize soft skills across the enterprise



Dig deeper:
Attend a Gartner CIO Conference near you
See why Gartner is the world authority on AI
Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights