How CEOs and CIOs can lead the AI transformation together

Leaders are under increasingly intense pressure to deliver and realize value from AI. The expectation to go all-in is immense -- from investors and boards to startups and legacy companies working to disrupt and transform.

It’s clear there is a mandate to use AI to transform how work gets done - improving efficiency internally and reshaping products and services for customers.

The real challenges are:

1. Aligning the company on the vision, strategy and value of AI.

2. Prioritizing and executing where AI drives the highest business impact.

Addressing these challenges requires partnership at the leadership level - specifically between a company's CEO and CIO. Together, they must be declarative about where the company is headed and how AI will play a vital role in getting there.

The CEO sets the vision and direction, which can both come to life in an AI manifesto and be embedded in the strategy. It might include how AI is part of the DNA of the organization, the approach to AI literacy and commitment to responsible use. The manifesto provides clarity that AI is not optional.

The CIO applies knowledge of every part of the company to build processes that fulfill the CEO’s vision and direction. Partnering, their role isn’t to chase every new trend but to ensure AI is grounded in purpose, centered on people and woven into business strategy—while building trust across the organization.

With vision and direction in place, the CEO and CIO need to collaborate on defining high-priority use cases. Execution and strategy are inextricably linked; understanding this connection is essential for AI initiatives to achieve real impact.

Next, it's important to clarify a few fundamentals:

Answering these questions positions leaders to make AI investments that are valuable, purposeful, aligned to business goals and built for lasting impact.

To move fast, we use a simple framework that filters AI opportunities sourced from across the organization based on alignment with priorities. A cross-functional team quickly evaluates feasibility against the value hypothesis. Those that move forward have clear metrics and are scoped for scaling.

No matter the use case, AI introduces two big fears among all of us: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and FOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete). Many people admit feeling left behind if they’re not embracing the latest AI trends.

The best antidote to both is transparency and deliberate communication starting at the top. The noise is relentless, making it critical for leaders to prioritize goals and share them clearly. This is where the manifesto comes into play. Executive alignment guides not just the technology decisions but it also prepares individuals and teams for change. The “why” of AI implementation matters as much as the “how.”

AI is the leadership challenge of our time. There will be winners and losers. The strong, driven, forward-looking leaders can rise to this challenge and not just survive the AI tsunami, but thrive.

But they can’t do it alone. Real impact demands a shared playbook and trust that connects every layer of the organization - and that starts with the CEO and CIO partnership. Leaders must be ready to rewrite old rules when AI changes what customers and stakeholders expect.

That’s how you move fast without losing your foundation. And that’s how you scale AI with trust, turning it from hype into real progress that lasts.