According to Gartner’s latest report on emerging technologies, enterprises are advised to not only keep an eye on new technologies but also carefully plan how to leverage these innovations while considering their capacity to handle unproven technologies. The 2024 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, recently released by Gartner, highlights several key areas of focus including autonomous AI, developer productivity, total experience, and human-centric security and privacy. In order to maximize the benefits of these technologies, cybersecurity leaders are urged to assess their organizations thoroughly, taking into account both their strengths and weaknesses, before making decisions on how to integrate these technologies into their operations.
One notable point made by Gartner is the positioning of generative AI technology at the “Peak of Inflated Expectations,” signaling a shift from the previous trend where organizations hastily adopted any technology involving generative AI. Now, there is a more cautious approach as businesses pause to evaluate these technologies against their specific needs and environment before implementation.
Arun Chandrasekaran, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, emphasizes the importance of assessing organizational maturity before deploying new technology. He notes that while a technology may be successful in one organization, it may not necessarily yield the same results in another setting. This underscores the need for a tailored approach when considering the adoption of emerging technologies.
In the realm of cybersecurity, Gartner emphasizes human-centric security and privacy, stressing the importance of fostering resilience by building a culture of trust and shared risk within organizations. It is pointed out that security controls often rely on the assumption that employees will consistently adhere to strict security measures, whereas in reality, individuals may seek ways to bypass such controls to fulfill their tasks. To address this, Gartner recommends early involvement of employees in the technology deployment process and providing adequate training to ensure alignment with security protocols.
Various emerging technologies that support human-centric security and privacy are identified by Gartner, including AI TRiSM, cybersecurity mesh architecture, digital immune system, disinformation security, federated machine learning, and homomorphic encryption. These technologies are seen as essential components in enhancing organizational cybersecurity measures.
Furthermore, in the context of Autonomous AI technologies, Gartner advises technology leaders to manage their expectations regarding the capabilities of technologies that operate with minimal human oversight. While advancements in this area are rapid, there is a need to balance expectations with the reality of what these technologies can deliver. Chandrasekaran warns of potential disappointment and disillusionment due to inflated expectations surrounding AI technologies, leading to an inevitable period of recalibration and potential failures.
The report also highlights tools aimed at increasing developer productivity, such as AI-augmented software engineering, cloud-native solutions, GitOps, internal developer portals, prompt engineering, and WebAssembly. Chandrasekaran emphasizes the importance of deploying technology in a way that aligns with human operations, ensuring that employees are adequately trained to utilize these technologies effectively.
Overall, Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies draws from an analysis of over 2,000 technologies with the potential to drive transformative benefits over the next decade. As organizations navigate the evolving technological landscape, a strategic and measured approach to adopting emerging technologies will be crucial to maximizing their potential impact on business operations.