The rise of artificial intelligence has introduced a new figure to the corporate leadership table: the Chief AI Officer (CAIO). This emerging role is already taking shape in large corporations and institutions globally, reflecting the urgency with which businesses are trying to embed AI into their strategy and operations.
The CAIO’s mandate is simple in concept but complex in practice: to guide an organisation’s overall AI direction, ensuring it is not treated as a one-off project but as a driver of long-term transformation. In industries where AI products and solutions are central to the business model, such as finance, healthcare, or automotive, this role can provide much-needed focus and accountability.
However, critics argue that a separate AI-focused position may duplicate the work of Chief Information Officers or Chief Technology Officers, particularly in companies where AI is only a supporting tool rather than a core offering. For them, the risk lies in creating silos or appointing executives to chase short-lived trends without a clear long-term strategy. Some see the CAIO as a transitional role, similar to the Chief Digital Officer of the early 2000s, which eventually faded as digital integration became part of standard leadership portfolios.
For the Maldivian corporate landscape, the question is whether such a role would make sense in local boardrooms. Most businesses in the Maldives do not build AI products, but they are beginning to adopt AI in subtle ways, from customer service chatbots in telecoms and banking to predictive analytics in tourism and logistics. While a CAIO might not yet be a necessity for local firms, the conversation highlights an important reality: Maldivian companies cannot afford to ignore AI altogether. Instead, the responsibilities associated with a CAIO may fall under existing leadership roles, or eventually emerge as the scale of AI adoption grows.
Whether short-lived or enduring, the CAIO reflects the reality that AI is now firmly part of the corporate agenda. For Maldivian businesses, the lesson is not about rushing to appoint a new C-suite executive, but about ensuring they have the expertise and strategy to integrate AI thoughtfully into their operations and customer experience.
