- The 3-day Info-Tech LIVE 2024 event concluded today, with AI being a key theme throughout the sessions. The thought leadership event also touched upon the need for traditional CIO roles to change with the times through adaptive leadership.
- A key session was conducted by Dr. Timnit Gebru, the founder and Executive Director of the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), who spoke about the importance of distilling the hype around AI from its practical applications while addressing the need to tackle data misuse, bias and accountability to enable the development of responsible AI.
Info-Tech Research Group, a leading research and advisory firm, recently concluded its 3-day event, Info-Tech LIVE 2024. With a focus on digital and IT transformation, the sessions at the event spanned topics such as adaptive IT leadership, responsible and ethical AI, and the evolving roles of CIOs in the age of AI.
The final day of the three-day conference touched upon key topics, including:
- Adaptive IT Leadership
Led by Carlene McCubbin, the AVP of Research Development at Info-Tech Research Group, this session focused on the need for strong IT leadership in the dynamic technology landscape. Leveraging data from the 2024 Info-Tech and McLean & Company surveys, she stressed that IT leaders and CIOs must pivot from a pure technicality to a balanced approach that blends people management with business acumen.
To drive home the point, she pointed out that 50% of CxOs agreed that IT is a driver of transformation but only 5 in 100 IT departments are equipped to meet the expectation. She also mentioned that IT leaders will face challenges such as staffing shortages and skills gaps with 35% of IT employees spending time on administrative duties.
- Separate AI From The Hype
Another key discussion centered around AI’s hype and how leaders should focus purely on its practical use cases to avoid falling for the hype. A keynote speech by the founder and Executive Director of Distributed AI Research Institute, Dr. Timnit Gebru, explored the AI landscape and how leaders should navigate the fine margins between hype and reality.
Dr. Gebru said leaders must prioritize the need for critical thinking to establish guidelines that lead to the development of responsible and ethical AI systems. She also claimed that many organizations have overestimated AI’s current capabilities, which demands a strategic rethinking of AI innovation to ensure businesses prevent biased applications, protect user data and develop responsible AI.
- The Traditional CIO Role Is Ineffective
Talking about the emergence of AI and how it has changed the IT landscape, Heather Leier-Murray, a Research Director at Info-Tech Research Group, led the session on the need for “new CIO” roles in businesses. She mentioned the skills CIOS would need to successfully lead their IT teams into the future, including reallocating time from operational duties to more strategic initiatives.
She also spoke about the misalignment between CxOs and CIOs, with 81% of respondents to their CxO-CIO Alignment Diagnostic survey saying their IT maturity level is at a supporting or struggling stage. This, she said, indicated the need for further evolution in the CIOs capabilities. She highlighted that currently half of most CIO’s week is taken up by management and operational tasks, but with evolving roles, they can be part of a more forward-thinking leadership role in IT teams.
Conclusion
The 3-day Info-Tech LIVE 2024 conference once again emphasized the need for adaptive leadership in businesses, ethical deployment of AI and the modernization of IT roles to meet the demands of an ever-shifting IT landscape. The sessions outlined that IT leaders must prioritize AI innovation while addressing gaps in leadership and strategic alignment. As the global IT landscape continues to change, driven by AI advancements, the takeaways from the session will help IT leaders guide businesses towards sustainable growth and organizational success.
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