The Rise of the Chief AI Officer
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By
Jessie Bur
In the year since the White House required agencies to name a CAIO, the people holding those positions have been responsible for many efforts and innovations that draw on advances in artificial intelligence.
President Joe Biden’s October 2023 executive order on artificial intelligence mandated that agencies officially designate a chief artificial intelligence officer responsible for managing the coordination, innovation and risk management of AI within their respective agencies. Though a few agencies had already named CAIOs on their own, the order formalized the authority and responsibilities of such positions.
Different agencies have taken varied approaches to setting up the CAIO role. Some have pursued a dual-hat function, where the chief data officer or chief technology officer assumes the mandated responsibilities. Others have designated the CAIO as a standalone position.
Nextgov/FCW interviewed several federal CAIOs to begin sketching a picture of how AI leadership is forming in government and how their work will impact their respective agencies.
This is an ongoing series, so check back regularly for new interviews and insights.