As 2026 approaches, AI innovation is accelerating faster than human readiness — so how can CIOs and IT leaders stay ahead?

In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, recorded on site at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo in Orlando, Florida, Gartner experts Chris Howard and Gene Alvarez share key takeaways from three cornerstone sessions: the Opening Keynote, Top Strategic Technology Trends, and the CIO Agenda. They explore how CIOs can walk the “golden path” to value, balance AI ambition with operational readiness and prepare their teams for a future defined by agility, risk management and tenacity.

Tune in to discover:

Why heroes are made in the Trough of Disillusionment
How CIOs can align human and AI readiness
The rise of multiagent systems and domain-specific language models
What the Architect, Synthesist and Vanguard roles mean for 2026 strategy
Why success depends less on budget and more on resilience, adaptability and trust

Dig deeper:

Download the Opening Keynote takeaways on AI readiness
Explore Gartner’s Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2026
Join us at a Gartner CIO Conference near you
Become a client to try out AskGartner for more trusted insights

From Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo: What’s Ahead for CIOs in 2026 and Beyond

Gartner ThinkCast

From Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo: What’s Ahead for CIOs in 2026 and Beyond