Gartner Says AI Risk is Rising Faster Than AI Value

Daryl Plummer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“People are doing more with AI than ever before, and 58% of leaders said they are seeing some positive value from their AI initiatives, according to a Q2 2026 Gartner survey of over 1,000 functional leaders.”

Daryl Plummer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“While many organizations are seeing pockets of AI success, they are struggling to consistently replicate and scale that value across the enterprise.”

Daryl Plummer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“However, the value-potential is high. The new CIO imperative is to align value with risk and align safety with governance,”

Kristin Moyer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“Alignment doesn’t mean everyone gets the same value or the same risk. It provides a consistent way to shape value-risk relationships,”

Kristin Moyer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“Organizations can establish an AI Central Bank to ensure transparency, coordination and accountability for both humans and machines,”

Kristin Moyer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“It’s not about centralization. It’s about alignment, coordination and collaboration.”

Daryl Plummer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“Two forces shape the Gartner Value-Risk Flywheel: momentum and drag. Momentum accelerates outcomes, while drag slows outcomes. But momentum itself is not always good, and the right kind of drag can be beneficial,”

Daryl Plummer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“CIOs who outperform know how to create positive momentum and strategically introduce good drag, while reducing bad momentum and bad drag.”

Kristin Moyer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“Our position is that people will fill in the gaps in AI value discovery,”

Kristin Moyer, VP, Distinguished Analyst and Gartner Fellow

“To expand the value side of the flywheel, empower AI entrepreneurs. Build a culture of creative people who know AI. Give them the freedom to reinvent work through serendipity and reward them when they do. When artisans are empowered to act as AI entrepreneurs, you’ll find your next great compound-value proposition.”