Will AI era leadership roles go the way of “Chief eCommerce Officer”?

The traditional C-suite is evolving as AI and data management become core business functions rather than specialized domains. Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) and Chief Data Officers (CDOs) may follow the path of once-prominent Chief eCommerce Officers, who disappeared once online sales became integrated throughout organizations rather than existing as separate functions. This shift suggests a future where AI literacy becomes a fundamental skill for all executives rather than the domain of dedicated leadership positions.

The big picture: The specialized C-suite roles created during technological transitions often disappear as those technologies become mainstream and integrated throughout organizations.

• More than 29% of current CDOs and CAIOs view their roles as transitional rather than permanent fixtures in the executive leadership structure.
• The same pattern occurred with Chief eCommerce Officers, who became obsolete once online sales strategies were embedded across all business units.

Current landscape: Organizations are in various stages of establishing dedicated AI leadership roles.

• Only 33% of organizations surveyed have appointed a Chief AI Officer to guide their artificial intelligence strategies.
• The CDO role appears more established and potentially more durable than the newer CAIO position.

Why this matters: The evolution of these roles reflects how organizations mature in their approach to transformative technologies.

• As AI and data literacy become expected competencies across departments, the need for specialized C-level positions may diminish.
• Glen McCracken of ION Analytics notes that “every part of the business” eventually needs to understand how to leverage new technologies effectively.

What they’re saying: Industry experts see parallels between today’s AI leadership roles and previous technology-specific executive positions.

• “We used to have chief ecommerce officers, and it made sense in the short term, but then longer term, every part of the business needed to understand how to use the internet to be more effective in their roles,” explains Glen McCracken of ION Analytics.
• Jeremiah Stone, CTO at SnapLogic, observes that new executive roles typically emerge during periods of technological disruption but can disappear as those technologies become ubiquitous.

Behind the numbers: The limited adoption of CAIO roles reflects organizational uncertainty about AI’s place in the leadership structure.

• Cindi Howson of ThoughtSpot points to many organizations struggling with generative AI implementation due to inadequate data foundations.
• Serena Huang, an AI consultant, notes that many companies remain in the early stages of AI adoption, suggesting the role could still evolve.