What Does a CAIO Do, Anyway?
The White House weighs-in. Plus the AI Headlines for Boards and Brands.
On April 3, 2025, Executive Order 13960 from the Office of Management and Budget, “Driving Efficient Acquisition of Artificial Intelligence in Government” -- kindly provided to me by effecivRAI – describes many of the responsibilities of a CAIO. While your company may not involve a bureaucracy as dense as the Federal government, the outline is helpful in identifying the core considerations for the role.
So, Dear Board Members and Brand Leaders:
The takeaway from the OMB memo is the strategic integration of Artificial Intelligence is no longer something that can develop organically, internally. In fact, the OMB puts a clock on completing (and publicizing) several of the CAIO’s responsibilities. AI a key driver of competitive differentiation and necessitates clear leadership, often taking shape in the form of a CAIO. But what defines this role beyond the title, especially as its importance is being recognized even at the highest levels of government?
The April 3 memo underscores that the CAIO is primarily a strategic orchestrator, tasked with promoting AI innovation, adoption, and governance within the organization. They serve as the senior advisor on AI to executive leadership, responsible for the overarching AI vision, its ethical implementation, and establishing robust governance frameworks.
Unlike roles traditionally rooted in deep technical execution, such as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO), the CAIO’s mandate is distinct. While collaboration with technical counterparts is key, the CAIO's focus is broader: bridging advanced AI capabilities with core business strategy, ensuring alignment, communication, mitigating risks (including those impacting brand, reputation, civil rights, and privacy), and fostering C-suite collaboration to embed AI effectively and responsibly. This involves overseeing compliance, establishing processes for managing high-impact AI applications, and advising on workforce transformation.
Success in this role demands a leader who understands AI's potential and pitfalls, can articulate its value and risks to the board, ensures ethical and accountable practices are central, and appreciates the profound impact AI has on customer experience, brand trust, and the success of the business.
And now, the AI headlines for Boards and Brands:
AI Regulation & Policy
March 2025 AI Developments Under the Trump Administration. Global Policy Watch
European Commission Publishes Updated Model Contractual Clauses for AI Procurement. mcusercontent.com
Automated Hiring Tools: Are My Hiring Practices Subject to AI Regulation?. www.orrick.com
How local governments are keeping AI under control. Route Fifty
AI in Business & Workplace
The Role of AI in Leave Management: Employer Considerations. Brown & Brown
[Social Intelligence Platforms 2025]. Michael Brito
Mistakes businesses makes deploying AI enterprise apps. Fast Company
Musk and AI among biggest threats to brand reputation, global survey shows. the Guardian
AI “interns” are too big to ignore. Fast Company
Agentic AI And Building Connections With Customers In The Moments That Matter. Forbes
The Future of AI in Knowledge Work: Tools for Thought at CHI 2025. Microsoft Research
The Rise Of Digital Coworkers: Moveworks Bets Big On AI Agents. Forrester
Genesys CEO: How empathetic AI can scale our humanity during economic uncertainty. Fortune
AI Technology & Development
Agentic AI: Balancing Risk With Innovation. www.suse.com
On Jagged AGI: o3, Gemini 2.5, and everything after. www.oneusefulthing.org
😵💫 The AI acceleration delirium: models, mergers, and mayhem. www.exponentialview.co
AI Ethics & Society
The Rise of Synthetic Intimacy: AI is Becoming Your Co-Pilot in Real Life. Brian Solis