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A chief AI officer (CAIO), also known as chief artificial intelligence officer, is a senior executive position responsible for overseeing an organization's artificial intelligence strategy, implementation, and governance.[1] The business role emerged from the fast-growing usage of AI technologies in business operations,[2] education, and government.[3]
Origin
editA CAIO is typically tasked with examining the short and long-term needs of an organization and utilizing capital to make investments designed to help the organization reach its AI-related objectives.[4][5] The CAIO is often the highest AI executive position within a company and leads the AI or machine learning department.[6]
The role of a CAIO often intersects with other executive positions such as the chief data officer (CDO), chief information officer (CIO), chief technology officer (CTO), and chief information security officer (CISO).[7] Due to its newness, the responsibilities of the CAIO are not yet well-defined, and the reporting structure varies by organization, with some CAIOs reporting to the CEO, COO, or CTO[1]
History
editThe emergence of the CAIO role is relatively recent, driven by rapid advancements in AI technologies.[8] The role's prominence increased following the end of the last AI winter, marked by the 2012 ImageNet competition[9] which elevated deep neural networks as the principal AI research paradigm. The advent of the Transformer architecture in 2017 and the widespread public adoption of large language models via interfaces like ChatGPT in late 2022 led to increased AI investments and competition for computing resources and talent.[10]
According to LinkedIn data, the number of CAIOs has almost tripled in the last five years,[11] highlighting the growing recognition of the role's strategic importance. Various industries, including healthcare, have hired CAIOs at leading institutions such as GE Healthcare, UnitedHealth, UCSF Health, UCSD Health, Mayo Clinic Arizona, and Children's National Hospital.[12][13]
On March 28, 2024, the US White House's Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum mandating all US Executive departments and agencies appoint a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) within 60 days.[14] On April 19, 2024, Senator Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the AI LEAD Act, which would create a CAIO in every federal agency and establish an interagency Chief AI Officer Council.[15]
Challenges
editAs AI continues to play an increasingly critical role in business operations and decision-making,[16] the CAIO position is expected to become more prevalent across industries.[17] According to recent data, 21% of companies are looking to add a CAIO to their IT leadership team, indicating a strong trend towards dedicated AI leadership in contemporary organizations.
References
edit- ^ a b "Chief AI officer: What it takes to land the C-suite's hottest new job". CIO. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "Artificial Intelligence for the Real World". Harvard Business Review. 2018-01-01. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "The EU AI Act and the Emergence of New Global Standards". Eckerson Group. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Valente, Alla (2024-04-03). "The New Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Role Balances AI Champion And Risk Manager". Forrester. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "What Is a Chief AI Officer? | IBM". www.ibm.com. 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Fountaine, Tim; McCarthy, Brian; Saleh, Tamim (2019-07-01). "Building the AI-Powered Organization". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "CIO vs CTO: What's the difference? | McKinsey". www.mckinsey.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "The evolving role of Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers - Power Shifter Digital". www.powershifter.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "ImageNet". image-net.org. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Leswing, Hayden Field,Kif (2024-03-30). "Generative AI 'FOMO' is driving tech heavyweights to invest billions of dollars in startups". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Subscribe to read". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ Diaz, Naomi (2024-07-31). "Which health systems have chief AI officers?". www.beckershospitalreview.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Jackson, Amber (2023-07-19). "Top 10 Chief AI Officers". aimagazine.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget (March 28, 2024). "MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES" (PDF). The US Whitehouse. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ "Connolly, Garbarino Introduce Bill to Create Chief AI Officers at Every Federal Agency". U.S. Congressman Gerry Connolly. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "How Businesses Are Using Artificial Intelligence In 2024 – Forbes Advisor". www.forbes.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ Insider, C.-Suite (2024-02-16). "The Emergence of the Chief AI Officer in C-Suites". C-Suite Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-14.