CEOs Press CIOs to Rethink IT's Role in the AI Era
TechTarget, Friday, October 16th, 2026
Eight executives say they need CIOs to be AI-native business partners who move faster, hire new talent and set AI governance.
TechTarget asked five CEOs and three other executives what they most need from their CIO as the AI era begins.
Answers include moving at the pace of a SaaS startup without compromising security, making IT the company's most AI-native department and partnering with HR to hire a new type of talent.
GAI Insights' Paul Baier estimates only 10% to 15% of CIOs have a transformation mindset, because CIOs get fired for security breaches and cost overruns, not for a lack of innovation.
Others want CIOs to build AI governance without micromanaging, improve everyday work and measure results.