In 2019, synthetic data was among the newly added technologies on Gartner's annual Hype Cycle for emerging technology. One year later, Differential Privacy made its entry into the matrix. This year, in the Hype Cycle for Privacy 2021, the advisory firm gives synthetic data 2 to 5 years before reaching the "Plateau of Productivity."
So, what does this tell us about the future of synthetic data? Gartner fairly pointed out that: a “technology's position [in the early stages of the cycle] is guided more by its hype levels and market expectation than by its maturity [...] at the later stages, as more information about maturity, performance and adoption becomes available, hype plays a lesser role".
And indeed, hype doesn't necessarily make for a successful technology. For example, almost none of last year's newly identified emerging technology made it to the 2021 list. And over the years, not all Gartner's predictions turned out accurate. In the last couple of years, we've also learned the lesson that unpredictable global events can profoundly transform the technological landscape and trends.
That being said, the estimation that synthetic data is now 2 to 5 years from the latest stages is a strong signal regarding the adoption of the technology. The growing use-cases and implementation in multiple industries make for a reliable database for analysts.
The progression of synthetic data in the Privacy Hype cycle also reflects the reality we’ve experienced over the last three years. Growing privacy regulations, security constraints, and sprawling data ecosystems keep tightening enterprise bottlenecks around data collection and access. As a result, enterprises turn toward new, reliable, and accessible data protection solutions.
More about the Gartner Hype Cycle for Privacy 2021
