How AI Really Thinks — and Why It Hallucinates

In this episode of ThinkCast, we explore one of the most persistent — and evolving — challenges with AI: hallucinations.
Gartner Chief of Research Chris Howard breaks down what hallucinations really are, why they happen and what they reveal about how machines think. From multiagent systems to physics-informed neural networks, discover how the next wave of AI innovation is moving beyond prediction and toward precision, all while relying on AI-ready data.
You'll learn:
• Why hallucinations happen and what they say about how AI works
• How multiagent systems and PINNs are changing how machines reason
• When to use probabilistic neural networks vs. deterministic tools
• Why not every business problem needs AI
• How hallucinations might actually help reframe your thinking
Dig deeper:
• Download Gartner's CIO Agenda for 2026
• Try out AskGartner for more AI-powered insights
• See why Gartner is the world authority on AI