Chief AI Officer: Executives discuss the role, pitfalls, and business philosophy
As artificial intelligence becomes commonplace across industries, more companies are looking to add a dedicated leader to the C-suite. But what does that look like?
Automation has long been depicted as an unstoppable force with an insatiable appetite for human jobs and the dawn of artificial intelligence (AI) only added another mysterious layer to the dynamic. While it cannot be denied that automation has, of course, changed the look of the labor force it should also be noted that digital transformation also brings with it a spectrum of entirely new jobs. In fact, AI created three new positions for every one position it killed in 2018. As more companies look to incorporate AI solutions, there becomes an increased need for an in-house professional guiding an organization’s AI strategy. This modern addition to the executive suite is known as the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO). So should organizations start making room for a CAIO or is the role the executive equivalent of vaporware? TechRepublic spoke with various tech executives to gain a better understanding of the demands and considerations shaping this nascent role.
From telehealth chatbots to smart elevators, an increasing number of organizations across industries are looking to leverage AI to enhance their business model. As companies begin to adopt these technologies, there’s a steep learning curve and numerous legal and ethical concerns to consider. “With the explosion of data we’ve seen over the last decade, many companies are struggling with how to use AI and automation to better access and utilize all of this information, in a safe, efficient, and ethical way,” said Vijay Narayanan, chief AI officer at ServiceNow. “For example, businesses need to ensure customer data is never used without getting their permission first, and bias always needs to be eliminated. The role of the CAIO is to help lead a business through these steps to ensure the technology is used correctly.”
It’s clear that many organizations will look to adopt a CAIO or similar roles to cater to these needs. However, there are pitfalls organizations can make when incorporating a new executive alongside the existing suite. As is the case with any position, cultural fit and philosophy are key. “The CAIO, CTO, and CIO may differ religiously on approach. Be careful to avoid religion,” said Monte Zweben, CEO and co-founder of Splice Machine.
