Generative AI Positioned on the Peak of Inflated Expectations in Gartner’s 2023 Hype Cycle
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has taken a prominent position on the “Peak of Inflated Expectations” in Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2023. This positioning suggests that generative AI is projected to achieve transformational benefits within the next two to five years. The Hype Cycle distills insights from over 2,000 technologies into a concise set of emerging technologies that are expected to deliver significant benefits over the next decade.
Arun Chandrasekaran, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, highlighted the impact of new AI techniques on business and society. The widespread adoption of AI foundation models, conversational agents, and generative AI applications is driving a wave of enhanced workforce productivity and machine creativity.
Generative AI is part of the broader theme of emergent AI, which includes various techniques such as AI simulation, causal AI, federated machine learning, graph data science, neuro-symbolic AI, and reinforcement learning. This emergent AI trend holds potential for enhancing customer experiences, aiding business decision-making, and fostering competitive differentiation.
Gartner’s report also emphasizes other emerging technology trends:
- Developer Experience (DevX): Enhancing interactions between developers and tools/platforms is crucial for digital initiative success. Technologies like AI-augmented software engineering, API-centric SaaS, GitOps, and value stream management platforms are enhancing DevX.
- Pervasive Cloud: Cloud computing is transitioning from an innovation platform to a pervasive driver of business innovation over the next decade. Maximizing cloud investments will require automated operational scaling, access to cloud-native platform tools, and effective governance.
- Human-centric Security and Privacy: The integration of security and privacy into digital design is essential to create a culture of trust and awareness within organizations. Technologies like AI TRISM, cybersecurity mesh architecture, and homomorphic encryption contribute to a holistic approach to security and privacy.
While generative AI’s potential is high, Gartner acknowledges that these emerging technologies are still in their early stages, leading to uncertainties about their future evolution. Despite potential risks, embracing these technologies can offer significant benefits to early adopters and drive transformative changes in various industries.
