Starcast Join the waitlist
Gartner ThinkCast

Gartner ThinkCast

AI Needs People: Why CIOs Are Rethinking the Productivity Play

Jul 9, 2026 · 25m

Coming soon to iPhone. Already have it? “Listen in Starcast” takes you straight there.

On this episode

About this episode

Many companies cut talent in pursuit of AI value. Now they're discovering what was lost in the process. In this episode, we explore a shift taking place in organizations' AI journeys: after an initial rush to pursue productivity gains and cost savings, many leaders are rediscovering that human expertise is essential to realizing AI's full value. Gartner Senior Executive Partner Denise McCurdy joins us to share what she's hearing directly from CIOs as they navigate mounting pressure to deliver AI outcomes, implement agentic AI and prepare for new operating models — all while preserving the people, knowledge and relationships that drive lasting transformation. You'll learn: Why productivity…