By Trevor Schulze
In any industry, it is crucial for members of a company’s board to have insights into artificial intelligence (AI) and to envision its future role within their organization. The potential for significant productivity enhancements offered by AI capabilities drives boards to eagerly embrace this technology.
Despite the increasing prominence of generative AI, boards may be inadvertently neglecting one of their most valuable resources—their chief information officers (CIOs). CIOs play a pivotal role in bridging knowledge gaps and facilitating the effective implementation of an AI strategy within boardrooms.
Alteryx conducted a survey of 300 enterprise board members across four countries to explore how boards perceive and utilize generative AI. While gen AI represents just a fraction of the broader AI landscape, these findings shed light on how boards are engaging with one of the most dynamic technologies of our time.
A significant majority (76%) of the surveyed board members are leveraging generative AI to varying extents, either by actively integrating AI across their operations or by experimenting with AI in specific scenarios.
Interestingly, nearly a quarter of the respondents (22%) consider themselves “experts” in understanding the technology. Surprisingly, only 43% sought expert guidance on gen AI, with a mere 12% indicating that they consult their CIO for insights.
This disconnect underscores a missed opportunity for boards to collaborate with a technology expert uniquely equipped to drive the success of AI initiatives within their organization.
Enhancing the CIO’s Influence on AI
Despite the prevailing dominance of generative AI in AI discussions, many technology leaders continue to grapple with the complexities of this technology. Even industry figures like Google CEO Sundar Pichai have acknowledged gaps in their understanding of certain AI system aspects.
CIOs offer a distinctive viewpoint on AI, particularly regarding risk management and the potential benefits of this transformative technology. Boards may not fully appreciate the value of the CIO’s comprehensive organizational perspective in shaping an effective AI strategy. Hence, CIOs need to establish themselves as the primary resource for AI guidance within the leadership team.
Given the real-time evolution of AI, sporadic conversations with board members are insufficient. CIOs must actively engage with the board, fostering regular dialogue to keep them abreast of AI developments.
If board members are not proactively seeking their input, CIOs should initiate informative workshops or Q&A sessions to stimulate meaningful discussions and position themselves as valuable resources. Amid the AI hype, organizations rely on their CIOs to navigate the chaos, steer boards towards tangible business outcomes, and address their queries effectively.
3 Recommendations for CIOs as Board Advisors
Effective collaboration between CIOs and board members hinges on consistent communication.
Firstly, aligning on a shared vision of AI’s business impact, beyond technical aspects, is imperative for both boards and CIOs. AI deployment transcends mere pilot programs; it necessitates thinking expansively while starting small and progressively scaling initiatives.
Once aligned on the overarching mission, CIOs can serve as pivotal AI advisors to board members by:
1. Articulating the potential and constraints of AI in a business context, guiding investment decisions based on business objectives rather than just technical prowess. Boards must prioritize projects with immediate impact while adhering to ethical, compliance, and legal considerations in AI deployment.
2. Emphasizing continuous learning for both boards and CIOs to stay abreast of AI advancements. Given the steep learning curve of AI systems, CIOs must proactively seek resources to enhance their expertise and understand diverse deployment approaches.
3. Adapting AI strategies in tandem with technological advancements requires CIOs to regularly reassess and refine their approaches. Benchmarking and case studies aid in communicating progress to boards, who may not be deeply involved in day-to-day deployment activities. Demonstrating AI’s impact on specific business areas and identifying potential applications can inform strategic decision-making.
As AI rapidly evolves, CIOs emerge as indispensable resources for board members seeking deeper insights into the technology landscape and strategic optimization. Establishing an open channel of communication between CIOs and boards is instrumental in ensuring leaders grasp the opportunities, risks, and full potential of AI.
Explore the Alteryx AI Platform for Enterprise Analytics. Trevor Schulze serves as the CIO of Alteryx.
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