Gartner has unveiled its annual insights into the emerging technologies that enterprise customers should pay attention to over the next few years. Among the top ten strategic technology trends highlighted at Gartner’s annual IT Symposium/XPO in Orlando are artificial intelligence, security, energy-efficient computing, robotics, and virtual computing experiences.
One major trend is the expected rise of “agentic AI,” which pertains to intelligent software entities capable of utilizing AI methods to accomplish tasks and reach objectives, as explained by Gene Alvarez, a distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner.
According to Gartner’s predictions, by 2028, a minimum of 15% of routine work decisions will be executed autonomously via agentic AI, a significant increase from the projected 0% in 2024. This technology will be integrated into AI assistants, software, SaaS platforms, IoT devices, and robotics. Numerous startups are positioning themselves as platforms for building such AI agents, while hyperscalers are incorporating agentic AI into their AI assistants, Gartner noted.
Agentic AI presents the opportunity for a virtual workforce that can enhance and supplement human efforts, as stated by Alvarez. The goal-oriented capabilities of this technology promise to create more flexible software systems that can handle a myriad of tasks. Furthermore, agentic AI has the potential to fulfill CIOs’ ambitions of boosting overall productivity within their organizations.
“Intelligent agents in AI will transform decision-making and enhance situational awareness within organizations by facilitating quicker data analysis and predictive intelligence. While you rest, agentic AI can evaluate five of your company’s systems, process far more data than any individual could and determine the necessary actions,” wrote Tom Coshow, senior director analyst at Gartner’s technical service providers division, in a Gartner report regarding intelligent agents in AI.
AI governance platforms fall under Gartner’s developing AI trust, risk, and security management (TRiSM) framework, which helps organizations manage the legal, ethical, and operational aspects of their AI systems, according to Alvarez. These solutions facilitate the creation, management, and enforcement of policies aimed at responsible AI usage, clarify the functioning of AI systems, and ensure transparency to foster trust and accountability.
One of the key advantages of AI governance platforms is the ability to prevent ethical incidents related to AI. By 2028, organizations that adopt comprehensive AI governance frameworks are expected to see a reduction of 40% in AI-related ethical issues compared to those lacking such systems, as predicted by Gartner.
AI governance platforms advocate for responsible AI by allowing organizations to oversee the legal, ethical, and operational performance of AI through a blend of practices and technological tools that monitor robustness, transparency, fairness, accountability, and compliance with risk regulations, Gartner has noted.
Gartner’s third trending topic revolves around AI and its intersection with disinformation security. This emerging technological category focuses on the systematic identification of trust, offering structured methods to maintain integrity, evaluate authenticity, prevent impersonation, and monitor the dissemination of harmful information, as explained by Gartner.
According to Alvarez, “The broad access to and advanced capabilities of AI and machine learning tools that are being misused is anticipated to lead to a rise in disinformation incidents aimed at enterprises. If this issue is not addressed, the consequences of disinformation can inflict considerable and enduring harm on any organization.”
Looking ahead, Gartner forecasts that by 2028, 50% of enterprises will start implementing products, services, or features that specifically tackle disinformation security challenges, a significant rise from less than 5% today.
Furthermore, Gartner anticipates that by 2029, breakthroughs in quantum computing will render most traditional asymmetric cryptography inadequate for secure use. This underscores the importance of post-quantum cryptography, which offers data protection capable of resisting the decryption threats posed by quantum computing.
Asymmetric encryption is ubiquitous in software, utilized by billions of devices across the globe and fundamental to most internet communications. In a recent report, Gartner highlighted the potential existence of “harvest-now, decrypt-later” attacks.
“Organizations need to shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to defend against threats from both classical and quantum computing. However, this transition is far from straightforward. It will demand significantly more effort than preparing for the Y2K bug, and failing to adapt could lead to serious implications. Moreover, many organizations have yet to take the necessary steps in planning or budgeting for this critical change,” remarked Mark Horvath, vice president analyst at Gartner.
One of the significant hurdles in implementing post-quantum cryptography is that replacement options are not readily available. “There are no straightforward alternatives to current cryptographic algorithms. This necessitates a process of discovery, categorization, and reimplementation,” Horvath noted.
“To tackle these challenges and facilitate the transition to new algorithms, organizations should begin by creating policies that address algorithm substitution, data retention, and the adjustments needed for modifying or replacing existing cryptography usage. A policy-driven approach will help eliminate confusion and arbitrary decisions, thereby enhancing manageability.”
“With advancements in quantum computing over recent years, it is anticipated that traditional cryptographic methods will become obsolete,” said Alvarez. “Transitioning to new cryptographic approaches is not a simple task, so organizations need to allocate sufficient time to ensure comprehensive protection for their sensitive and confidential information.”
Hybrid computing is featured on Gartner’s list. This type of computing, which is described by Gartner as a system that integrates computing, storage, and networking elements to address complex computational issues, enables technologies such as AI to exceed current technological boundaries.
Emerging computing paradigms continue to emerge, including CPUs, GPUs, edge computing, application-specific integrated circuits, neuromorphic systems, and quantum technologies, noted Alvarez. He emphasized that hybrid computing will facilitate the creation of highly efficient, transformative environments that outperform traditional settings.
Energy-efficient computing will remain a significant discussion point, as per Gartner. Information technology plays a critical role in sustainability, and in 2024, the primary focus for most IT organizations will be their carbon footprint, Alvarez explained.
According to Alvarez, compute-intensive applications—like those involving AI training, simulation, optimization, and media rendering—are anticipated to significantly contribute to the carbon footprint of organizations due to their high energy consumption.
Energy-efficient or green computing encompasses a range of approaches, from adopting renewable energy sources and upgrading to more efficient hardware to implementing long-term strategies driven by innovative technologies, as reported by Gartner here.
Current examples of green computing practices include optimizing application architecture, utilizing code and algorithms that demand less energy, embracing new, more efficient hardware, and switching to greener energy sources. Looking ahead, more sophisticated methods, including cutting-edge computing platforms currently in the research stage, are expected to become available, noted Gartner.
It is projected that from the late 2020s onward, several new computing technologies—such as optical, neuromorphic, and specialized accelerators—will be developed for specific tasks, including AI and optimization, which will consume considerably less energy according to Alvarez.
Ambient invisible intelligence describes the extensive adoption of small, affordable tags and sensors used for tracking the location and status of a variety of objects and environments, as noted by Gartner.
By 2027, initial implementations of ambient invisible intelligence will aim to address immediate issues, including retail inventory management and logistics for perishable items. This technology will facilitate low-cost, real-time tracking and monitoring to enhance visibility and operational efficiency, according to Gartner.
Spatial computing enhances the tangible world through technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality. Organizations are expected to experience increased effectiveness over the next five to seven years due to more streamlined workflows and improved collaboration. Gartner forecasts that by 2033, the spatial computing market will expand to $1.7 trillion, a considerable rise from $110 billion in 2023.
These advanced systems are capable of performing multiple tasks and are set to replace specialized robots designed for single functions. Polyfunctional robots are built to work alongside humans, allowing for rapid deployment and easy scalability. According to Gartner, by 2030, 80% of people will interact with smart robots daily, a significant increase from less than 10% today.
This innovative technology aims to bolster human cognitive functions by employing systems that interpret and analyze brain activity. It utilizes either unidirectional or bidirectional brain-machine interfaces (BBMIs) to achieve this. The implications of such advancements are vast, particularly in three key domains: enhancing human skills, revolutionizing marketing strategies, and improving overall performance. Neurological enhancement promises to elevate cognitive functions, provide brands with insights into consumer thoughts and emotions, and enhance human neural capabilities for better outcomes. According to predictions by Gartner, by 2030, 30% of knowledge workers will rely on technologies like BBMIs to maintain their relevance in an evolving workplace influenced by AI, a significant increase from less than 1% anticipated in 2024.