*|Financial Times: The Rise of the Chief AI Officer|*

Monday April 15, 2024

Financial Times: "The Rise of the Chief AI Officer"

Register for our Washington DC Events NOW:
June 11: Our 11th CDAO Summit
June 12: Our 2nd Chief AI Officer Summit

Thanks to the Financial Times for quoting me and a few of our Chief AI Officer colleagues in yesterday's Sunday edition in an article titled "The Rise of the Chief AI Officer":

"More companies are appointing staff to oversee the technology. What do these senior leaders actually do?

As boards grapple with the opportunity and risk of generative artificial intelligence, companies are leaning into a new role: the chief AI officer. The number of companies with a designated head of AI position has almost tripled globally in the past five years.

"CAIOs oversee the deployment of AI and generative AI within an organisation: improving workforce efficiency, identifying new revenue streams, and mitigating ethical and security risks.

The role requires a “deep understanding of AI tech, machine learning, data science and analytics,” says David Mathison, who founded the first Chief AI Officer Summit last year. Yet candidates also “need to understand legal” and change management well; many come from leadership roles in data, risk management and compliance."

The position was further elevated last month, when the White House announced federal agencies were required to designate chief AI officers “to ensure accountability, leadership, and oversight” of the technology.

CAIO summit founder Mathison thinks the role will stay relevant, adapting with the technology and becoming available to smaller companies through part-time fractional positions. “That evens the playing field,” he says."

I'm grateful that the FT journalist quoted me both at the top and bottom of the piece, bookending it. Thanks to the reporter for the balanced coverage, a hallmark of FT reportage.

The cover photo is of Accenture Chief AI Officer Lan Guan. The FT also quoted Fawad Bajwa at Russell Reynolds Associates; Thomas Hurd; Ryan Bulkoski at Heidrick & Struggles; Dr. Harrick Vin, CTO at Tata Consultancy Services; Daniel Hulme (CAIO at WPP); and Jeff Boudreau (CAIO at Dell Technologies).

Both Daniel and Jeff keynoted at our 1st Chief AI Officer Summit held in Boston in 2023, the world's first ever CAIO Summit.

"Realizing AI's Potential - Insights from the Frontlines of Enterprise and Innovation" fireside chat with Jeff Boudreau, Chief AI Officer at Dell Technologies and Kleida Martiro, Partner at Glasswing Ventures, moderated by Usama Fayyad, Executive Director of the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University (12/14/23)

Early Bird Pricing Expires April 30 - Register NOW!

Delegates, speakers, and sponsors can participate in one or both events.

Register NOW at either site below:

1-day ticket pricing:

~~Super Early Bird Discount: $295~~
Early Bird Discount: USD $495 (EXPIRES APRIL 30)
~~Regular Registration: $795~~

BOTH DAYS ticket pricing:

~~Super Early Bird Discount: $495~~
Early Bird Discount: USD $795 (EXPIRES APRIL 30)
~~Regular Registration: $1,295~~

Choose BOTH DAYS and SAVE $195: Select "BOTH DAYS" and pay just $795, a savings of $195 off buying each day separately (2 x $495 = $990).

As Axios reported in DC's Hottest New Job: The Chief AI Officer, "Hundreds of agencies across the federal government are scrambling to find more than 400 chief AI officers by the end of the year. Why it matters: The requirement, one of the edicts of President Biden's recent AI executive order, aims to make sure every arm of government has a top exec who is ready to deal with AI. Driving the news: The Office of Management and Budget has released guidance to federal agencies on how to implement Biden's AI executive order — and how to hire a chief AI officer (CAIO) is on top of that list. The Executive Office of the President is also required to hire a Chief AI Officer."

Over the course of two days, you'll meet the following speakers (with more to come!):

Anthony Scriffignano: Distinguished Fellow, Alfred Lee Loomis Innovation Council, The Stimson Center
Austin Gerig: Chief Data Officer, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Brian Peretti: Deputy Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Director Domestic and International Cyber Policy, U.S. Department of the Treasury
David Mathison: CEO, CAIO Summit/CDAO Summit; CDO Club
Diane Staheli: Assistant Director, AI Applications, Office of Science and Tech Policy, The White House
Dr. Delester Brown Jr: Chief Data Officer, National Guard Bureau
Dr. Mike Horton: Deputy Chief Data Officer, US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Florin Rotar: Chief AI Officer, Avanade
Iwao Fusillo: Global Head of Data & Analytics - eCommerce, PepsiCo
Jinyoung Englund: Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Algorithmic Warfare Directorate, US Department of Defense
Luke Douglas: Chief Data Officer, Peace Corps
Marie Falkowski: Deputy IC Chief Data Officer & Deputy ADNI for Data & Partnerships, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Mark Brady: Deputy Chief Data Officer for TRMC, KBR, Inc.
Mark McCreary: Partner, Chief Artificial Intelligence & Information Security Officer, Fox Rothschild
Paul Evangelista: Chief Data Officer, U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Ronke Ekwensi: VP & Chief Data Officer, T-Mobile
Stephen Drew: Chief AI Officer, Ruffalo Noel Levitz
Tanya Dua: Technology Editor, LinkedIn
Tim Davis: Executive Director, Data and AI Architecture, IBM
Thomas Sasala: Deputy Director, Office of Enterprise Management, U.S. Army
Vinay Vijay Singh: Chief AI Officer, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
More to come - stay tuned!

What can you expect from our upcoming CDAO and Chief AI Officer Summits in DC in June?

Check out these videos of all sessions from our previous events - the 10th CDAO Summit and the world's first-ever Chief AI Officer Summit from December 2023, hosted by the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University in Boston MA.

We are embedding the videos from each session on our blog post re-caps below - so stay tuned:
* 10th CDAO Summit re-cap <-- the final video was posted today, all vids are up!
* 1st Chief AI Officer Summit re-cap <-- videos coming soon!

You can also view the videos on our YouTube channel and playlist for the CDAO Summit Boston 2023.

For sponsorship info, contact us via email or call +1 516 488-1143

Sponsors, you know the drill: We have set up a foundation of C-level CDAOs and Chief AI Officers, with more to come as the Ethics review process continues. There are nice speaker surprises coming up!

Get involved NOW and you can help define the agenda, and possibly join the stage with your colleagues. Don't wait until the speakers and agenda has been defined, it will be too late!

Review our blog posts on the White House Executive Order on AI and the OMB memorandum:

4/10/24: Chief AI Officer Job Requirements at US federal agencies: In this blog post we review the memo from OMB and excerpt the roles, responsibilities, seniority, position, and reporting structure for Chief AI Officers at U.S. federal agencies.
4/4/24: OMB memorandum on “Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for gency Use of Artificial Intelligence” (3/28/24). OMB announced that the Biden-Harris White House has launched a “national talent search” for Chief AI Officers and AI professionals in the hope of hiring at least 100 by this summer.
4/2/24: Executive Order: “White House directs federal agencies to name Chief AI Officers” (3/28/24). The Biden-Harris White House announced a sweeping new policy to promote the safe use of AI by the federal government. The policy includes three binding requirements that mandates all federal agencies: to provide concrete safeguards against AI harm; to provide transparency for AI use cases; and to appoint a Chief AI Officer.

If you are interested in a Chief AI Officer or CDAO role, be sure to reach out to us!

Thanks to the journalists and analysts for quoting us in the following articles:

• Apr 14, 2024 (Financial Times): The Rise of the Chief AI Officer
• Feb 14, 2024 (People Matters): Tech's AI superstars rake in $1 mn: Are you paying enough?

• Feb 14, 2024 (HR Executive): These orgs hired a chief AI officer. Does your company need one?

• Feb 06, 2024 (EdTech Magazine): What Is a Chief AI Officer, and Should Your University Appoint One?

• Jan 26, 2024 (LinkedIn News): AI jobs are among the fastest-growing, even as many people fear the technology. Here's what AI leaders do - and how to become one

• Jan 04, 2024 (Inst for Experiential AI): Business Leaders Gather For World’s 1st Chief AI Officer Summit

• Jan 02, 2024 (Forbes): From The Classroom to The Economy: Northeastern University’s Institute for Experiential AI Accelerates Real-World AI Transformation

• Dec 18, 2023 (GovCIO): AI Chiefs Need to Experiment to Implement AI Successfully

• Nov 27, 2023 (Axios): DC's Hottest New Job: The Chief AI Officer

• Nov 15, 2023 (Tanium): The Chief AI Officer is Here. It's Time to Make Room in the C-Suite

• Oct 29, 2023 (Forbes): The Case for the Chief AI Officer - A Role Whose Time Has Come

On deadline? Send press inquiries via email here or call us on +1 516 488-1143

Check out our 260+ Endorsements!

See what previous speakers, delegates, and sponsors had to say about our Summits here.

"Thank you David Mathison for the opportunity to share and highlight the healthcare industry trends at today’s 10th CDAO Summit, and for for putting together such a fantastic Chief AI Officer Summit! BigID is proud to sponsor and support this community."
Peggy Tsai: Chief Data Officer, BigID

"Great conference, David Mathison! The topics were relevant, the panelists and speakers top notch, the setting was intimate, and the connections were truly valuable for any senior executive in the digital space. Thanks for pulling it together. I really look forward to attending next year.”
Lisa Choi Owens: Chief Revenue Officer and Director at TED

See more endorsements here >

About the CAIO Summit:

The CAIO Summit is the world's first-ever event specifically for Chief AI Officers and leaders in Generative AI. Brought to you by the producers of the 1st-ever CDO Summit in 2013, our inaugural event is hosted by The Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University in Boston MA. The program includes the best AI strategists and practitioners on earth, in an intimate, collegial, and supportive environment designed to encourage networking, learning, and knowledge-sharing. If you are tasked with mastering the strategies and tactics to surpass your AI business objectives, secure your seat at the CAIO Summit today. Visit the website.

About the CDO/CDAO Summit:

For over a decade, the CDO/CDAO Summits have been addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from AI, analytics, big data, the cloud, digital disruption, and social and mobile media. Our gatherings include the best data/digital strategists and practitioners on earth, in intimate, collegial, and supportive environments designed to encourage networking, learning, and knowledge-sharing. If you are tasked with mastering the strategies and tactics to achieve and surpass your data/digital business objectives, be sure to join us at a CDO Summit today. Visit the website.

About the CDO Club:

The CDO Club is the world’s first, largest, and most powerful community of C-suite AI, analytics, data, digital, and cyber-security leaders. Our members receive access to advisory services, breaking news, original research, career development support, networking opportunities, and inspirational events. Our high-impact services are designed to help our members improve their capabilities, strengthen their professional networks, openly share insights & strategies, & collaboratively identify the tools essential to help them succeed in navigating today’s rapidly evolving, highly competitive & complex online environment. Visit the website.

"Rethinking AI & Impact on Business and Humanity" keynote by Daniel Hulme, Chief AI Officer at WPP at the world's first-ever Chief AI Officer Summit hosted by the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University (12/14/23)

Contact Information:

We'd love to hear from you. Email us at info@CDOSummit.com or call +1 516 488-1143.