The CTO vs. CMO AI power struggle - who should really be in charge?

Who Should Lead AI Initiatives in Your Company?

Imagine a CTO and a CMO walking into a bar. Sounds like the start of a great joke, right? But let's be real, they'd probably be too busy debating who should lead the company's AI initiatives to even notice the bar. 😅

In today's discussion, beyond sharing what might be the best dad jokes you'll hear all day 😏, we're tackling the pressing question of who should steer your company's AI strategy.

Is it the CTO, the CMO, or perhaps a surprise contender ready to step out of the shadows like a twist in a novel or your favorite reality TV show?

Dun dun duuuuuuunnnnnnn! 😱

Also, if you want to thrive in the AI era, you've got two options: build AI yourself or leverage it to grow your business.

By the way, if you're new here, I'm Lester—feel free to call me Les. I'm an award-winning performance marketer and the chairman of a group of DTC brands. The insights I'm sharing today? They're battle-tested and thoroughly debated within our organization.

Looking for practical AI tips and tricks? Sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. It's where I share what's genuinely working in business today, along with the marketing trends that are making waves.

But let's dive in and find out who should be at the helm of AI in your company. 💪

Spoiler alert: My recommendation might surprise you.

Understanding the Landscape

I won't bore you with the "AI is taking over the world" spiel. But it's crucial to note that the global AI market is projected to skyrocket from $757.58 billion in 2025 to a staggering $3.6 trillion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.20% during this period, according to Precedence Research. Clearly, AI is a big deal and will significantly influence any organization. 🚀

Also, how can you avoid falling into the AI complexity trap?

Our approach to AI is straightforward: It's about "doing it with me" rather than "doing it for me." Especially when it comes to customer-facing tasks, business is all about people. It's important to treat those who bring in the revenue with respect and not hand them off to a machine.

With this in mind, we view AI not just as a piece of technology but as a core business strategy. The person you appoint to lead AI will impact not only your technology but also your customer relationships, competitive edge, and ultimately, your bottom line. 😤

The choice of who leads your AI initiatives hinges entirely on your objectives.

The Golden AI Rule

One might argue that the CTO should oversee all things technical, including AI. After all, the CTO is already in charge of your company's tech infrastructure, data security, and system reliability—all of which AI directly affects.

But should the CTO dictate what AI tools your creative team uses? Do they grasp the essentials of what makes compelling content or understand the company's marketing goals? 🤔💭

Also, AI agents aren't just assistants anymore; they're reshaping the future of work today.

That sounds more like a role for your creative team or your CMO.

On the flip side, your CMO is responsible for everything from brand positioning and revenue growth to customer experiences. But should they be the ones deciding on AI tools for coding, managing company-wide processes, or integrating company data?

See the dilemma? 🤓☝️

AI isn't isolated to one department. It's not just a marketing or tech issue; it's much larger than that. AI is a strategic matter, you feel me?

In our company, the decision-making process for anything tech-related is simple.

No department dictates to another what tools they should use to get their job done. 🙅‍♂️

In larger companies, it's often the person who's never done the job negotiating contracts. When the person actually doing the work starts, their first thought is usually, "What the hell is this thing?" or "My way is faster." You and I don't even work together, and yet, you know exactly what I mean, right? Smh.

The person doing the work should choose their tools. It's that simple.❗❗❗

Also, here are four ways to prepare your business for the agentic AI revolution.

Once a tool is selected, our CTO steps in. They conduct thorough checks to ensure our data remains secure, confidential information stays confidential, and our secrets don't end up on the dark web.

However, if your organization is large enough to warrant a dedicated Chief AI Officer (CAIO), their role shouldn't be about choosing AI tools for everyone. Instead, they should act as a mediator, connecting the dots between teams. They need to listen to what people need, understand the challenges each department faces, and ensure the company's AI strategy aligns with real-world requirements. Their job is less about control and more about ensuring everyone's on the same page. 🤓

My Simple Yet Effective Approach

Here's a straightforward but effective checklist your team can use to decide which AI tool to deploy:

• Collectively define the goal for the AI tool
• Identify who will use it daily and clearly understand their needs and wants
• Test the AI solution to ensure it works as intended
• Have the CTO check security and confirm it integrates smoothly into existing systems (if necessary)
• Measure if the AI improves things once deployed
• Periodically check if a better solution exists that could enhance the workflow

Also, here are five ways to boost your team's productivity without relying on generative AI.

This approach keeps your AI strategy practical, relevant, and effective without stepping on anyone's toes or slowing things down. 👍

My Two Cents

I'll leave you with this thought: AI isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It impacts every facet of your business, and each part has its own unique needs and objectives.

AI is a strategy, not just another piece of technology or a random tool. 🤓☝️

That's why I firmly believe that AI decisions should never be one-size-fits-all. The person deciding which AI tool to use should always be the one doing the actual work. This ensures that the right tools are selected and promotes a culture of innovation and efficiency throughout your organization.

You feel me?

😇 Hope this helps. I'm rooting for you.

P.S. If you want more straightforward and helpful AI tips and tricks, sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts.

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