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Antonio Garrido, My Daily Leadership | Leadership development. Futurproof yourself, your team and your business.
As a leader, your job is to futureproof your company as best you can. Simple, right? Well, not always. Imagine this: Your competitor posts a job ad for a CAIO—chief artificial intelligence officer—and you’re sitting there wondering, “Is this another fancy title or something I should care about?” Spoiler alert: It’s the future you didn’t prepare for.
While you were busy worrying about AI replacing humans, the real twist happened—AI-empowered humans are outpacing the unprepared. The good news? You’ve still got time to catch up, but you need to act now. AI isn’t going away—it’s here to stay, much like the internet, smartphones and cloud computing.
AI isn’t the villain—complacency is.
Relax. AI isn’t coming for your job, but someone who does your job and has embraced AI might be. It’s a tool, and like any tool, it’s all about who wields it better. The employee in your industry who learns how to turbocharge their output with AI? That’s the real competition—not ChatGPT or its digital cousins.
Think back to the 1990s. Companies that dismissed the idea of hiring a chief information officer (CIO) were left in the dust. Many didn’t survive. Today, the same scenario is unfolding with AI. If your strategy is to “hold a watching brief” or “worry about AI later,” here’s your wake-up call: Later is already here.
You’ll be seeing CAIOs on LinkedIn soon.
Enter the chief AI officer. This isn’t just another flashy title; it’s a vital role at the executive table. A CAIO bridges the gap between technology and business strategy, ensuring AI adoption doesn’t devolve into fragmented departmental chaos but instead drives collaborative and meaningful growth.
A CAIO’s responsibilities will include:
• Integrating AI tools to scale operations
• Measuring the return on investment of AI investments in departments like sales or human resources
• Establishing guardrails to prevent AI-related public relations disasters (because let’s face it, no one wants to be “that” headline)
Skipping this role is like entering a Formula 1 race without a pit crew. Sure, you might start, but you won’t finish. A CAIO better ensures you’re not just playing defense against disruption but actively turning it into a real competitive advantage.
Your 2025 budget needs an AI line item—period.
Here’s the harsh truth: If your 2025 budget doesn’t include a dedicated line item for AI, you’re already behind. AI isn’t a luxury or a fad or a flash in the pan; it’s now a survival tool. Think smarter data analysis, automated workflows and better decision-making. It’s the more modern equivalent of email for your business—100% essential.
Allocate funds now. Even a modest budget for AI tools or consulting can deliver significant returns. Start small but start smart.
Invest in training. The best tools are only as effective as the people using them. Upskilling your team isn’t optional. For instance, a mid-sized retail company used AI-powered inventory tools to cut waste by 20%. Meanwhile, their competitor struggled with excess stock and shrinking margins. Guess who’s winning?
Bring AI into the board room. Figure out what AI can simplify and speed up, sure, but the real question is: How can you utilize AI for more insight and then more strategic resight?
It’s not about AI—it’s about strategy.
AI isn’t a magic wand. Treating it as a one-size-fits-all solution is a recipe for disappointment. What you need is a clear, actionable AI strategy:
Understand your goals. Are you aiming to save costs, enhance customer experiences or disrupt your industry? Know your “why” before you dive in.
Adopt selectively. Start small, targeting areas with low risk and high reward. Automating repetitive tasks is an easy win.
Iterate and scale. AI adoption is a marathon, not a sprint. Test solutions, learn from them and expand strategically.
Without a strategy, adopting AI is like throwing spaghetti at the wall—messy and unlikely to stick.
Let the CAIO do their job.
Here’s the thing about leadership: You don’t need to know everything. But you do need to empower people who do. Hire or appoint a chief AI officer, then trust them to own your AI strategy. Your job isn’t to micromanage algorithms; it’s to create the conditions for success.
Moral of the story: Leaders who are curious about AI and self-aware enough to delegate and not just hold a watching brief will thrive. Those who dismiss AI as a passing trend—or try to control everything themselves—will struggle (fail).
AI isn’t just a tool; it’s a culture shift.
Adopting AI is about more than just technology; it’s a mindset. To succeed, you need a culture that embraces change, encourages experimentation and values data-driven decision-making. Here are two steps to start today:
1. Talk about AI in leadership meetings. Normalize the conversation. Discuss what’s working and what isn’t.
2. Celebrate AI wins. Share success stories—whether it’s saving time or improving outcomes—to build momentum and trust.
A team that sees AI as an ally, not an adversary, will naturally innovate and adapt.
Adapt or get left behind.
The history of business is littered with companies that resisted change. Don’t let yours become the next cautionary tale. The choice isn’t whether to adopt AI—it’s how to do it effectively and quickly.
If you’re still on the fence, ask yourself this: How much is it costing you not to embrace AI? Remember, AI is accelerating. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to catch up.
The future is calling. Pick up the phone.
AI isn’t a threat; it’s the biggest opportunity of a generation. Companies and leaders who embrace it wisely will gain a significant edge. Those who ignore it may not survive to tell the tale.
So what’s your next move?
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