As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to permeate discussions across enterprises of sizes large and small, a new role is emerging as a key player in corporate boardrooms: the Chief AI Officer (CAIO). Tasked with helping define the company’s AI strategy and leading its implementation, the CAIO is transitioning from being viewed as an extension of the Chief Technology Officer to establishing itself as a distinct position within an organisation.
AI industry analyst Kashyap Kompella said the CAIO also acts as an AI advisor to the board, an AI coach to the C-Suite, and a mentor to the AI and technology teams.
Hype and pace
“The hype and pace of change in AI can be quite dizzying. Having a dedicated CAIO can help separate the signal from the noise and make the right AI investments. The CAIO usually reports to the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) or the CTO. Chief Information Officer (CIO) is more common in traditional industries. Hiring a CAIO is a strong signal a company is serious about AI. Experienced AI talent is in short supply and a strong CAIO can help attract the talent required to execute on the company’s AI roadmap.”
Jaspreet Bindra, the CEO and co-founder of AI&Beyond India, and Tech Whisperer UK, compared this evolution with that of a CDO.
“Around 10 years ago, when companies started appointing CDOs, many did so without figuring out the job role and where it would fall in the CIO, CTO, and CDO triangle. The original aim was that a CDO function would be horizontal rather than a vertical, a role that nobody apart from a CEO usually has. Since digital was horizontal, it had to go across the company. Some of the more enlightened companies had the CDOs report to the CEO while others, because of turf wars, would have them report to the CIO or the CTO.”
Bigger than any other technology
But things have evolved since. Now, many CDOs report directly to the CEO. CAIOs are following a similar pattern. He explained that AI is a fundamental and data-centric technology, and is bigger than any other technology in the last few decades.
“The same rush to appoint CAIOs is happening. It’s like deja vu. However, like with the CDO, organisations are yet to figure out their roles and how they will differ from a CDO, CTO role, or CIO. Many organisations have transformed the CDO into a CAIO, combined the digital and AI officer, or has the CTO double-hatting as the CAIO.”
Companies like LinkedIn, Accenture, MasterCard, United Health Group, and Games 24×7, are also part of the cohort hiring or that recently hired for CAIO-related roles.
Games24x7 claims to be among the first companies to recognise the transformative potential of AI and establish dedicated AI leadership.
Dr Tridib Mukherjee, the company’s Chief Data Science & AI Officer, commented, “AI has become ubiquitous today, transforming industries and redefining how businesses operate. As a tech-first company, we leverage transformative tools such as AI, ML, and Data Science to deliver unparalleled experiences for our users. This tech-driven approach aligns with our guiding philosophy of the ‘Science of Gaming,’ fostering a culture of innovation. We drive innovation across three areas leveraging AI and DS – responsible gaming; hyper-personalisation and workflow automation. This focus has been instrumental in creating hyper-personalised user experiences.”
