CIO OPINION
As knuckles whiten and pulses race , the AI rollercoaster seems out of control .
Sid Bhatia , Regional VP and General Manager , Middle East ,
Türkiye and Africa , Dataiku
Will Chief AI Officer benefit enterprises or create conflicts ?
The Chief AI Officer ’ s role overlaps the role of CIO and Chief Data Officer and without unquestioned ownership of AI , the ability to move ahead in the journey to Everyday AI , a cultural shift where an organisation ’ s entire workforce operates with AI in mind , is limited , explains Sid Bhatia at Dataiku .
As knuckles whiten and pulses race , the AI rollercoaster seems out of control . The Chief AI Officer is a role that has garnered much attention since AI became a wild stallion in need of a whisperer . While the idea may seem natural and timely , the complexity behind real-world appointments is worth exploring .
Let us start with the basics . The Chief AI Officer ’ s job description shows much overlap with other technology executives , such as the Chief Information Officer , CIO , and Chief Data Officer , Chief Data Officer . Without absolute , unquestioned ownership of AI , the ability of the Chief AI Officer to effect real purpose in the journey to Everyday AI , an all-embracing cultural shift where an organisation ’ s entire workforce operates every second with AI in mind is limited .
For the Chief AI Officer to be worth the resources expended in their recruiting , recruitment , onboarding , and ongoing cost of retention , the enterprise must use the resource properly . The Chief AI Officer must be allowed to take the reins of strategy , implementation , and governance so they may guide the organisation towards fulfilling business objectives and , in the case of private companies , gaining competitive advantage .
Where a Chief AI Officer is present , the CIO should be restricted to focusing on broader IT infrastructure , and the Chief Data Officer to looking after data assets . The Chief AI Officer will develop and execute AI programmes . They will align outputs with business goals and drive an Everyday AI culture that embeds ethics , banishes bias , exudes transparency , and delivers data privacy .
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