In September, the Mayo Clinic in Arizona pioneered a groundbreaking role within the hospital system: the chief artificial intelligence officer.
“We’re really trying to foster some of these data and A.I. capabilities throughout every department, every division, every work group,” expressed Dr Richard Gray, the chief executive of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort in the wake of the A.I. technology surge.
The appointment of Dr Bhavik Patel, a radiologist specializing in A.I., to this new role came as a response to the increased focus on A.I. following the release of ChatGPT in 2022. Dr. Patel has been at the forefront, piloting an A.I. model to expedite the diagnosis of rare heart disease by uncovering hidden data in ultrasounds.
While concerns have long loomed over A.I. potentially eliminating jobs, a flourishing A.I. landscape has created a new trend. Various sectors, including law firms, hospitals, insurance companies, government agencies, and universities, are creating a new executive position – the senior executive in charge of A.I.
“The A.I. executive jobs are appearing because organizations want to harness the transformative technology,” notes Randy Bean, founder of consulting firm NewVantage Partners. Simultaneously, organizations seek to showcase their commitment by having a “chief A.I. officer.”
Similar to the rise of chief information and technology officers in response to technological advances in the 1980s, and chief data officers post-2008 financial crisis, the surge in A.I. executive roles is a strategic move to navigate the risks and potentials of A.I. and its impact on the workforce.
“In May, the health insurer Florida Blue promoted Svetlana Bender to the new job of vice president of A.I. and behavioural science for just that purpose,” illustrating how companies are proactively adapting to this technological shift.
However, some experts caution that the rapid evolution of AI may soon outpace these newly established roles. A Harvard Business Review article from last year suggested that the high-pressure balancing act of chief A.I. officers might pose challenges in a field with immense risks and opportunities.
Yet, those in these roles express confidence in the staying power of their positions. Dr. Patel, now the chief A.I. officer at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, underscores the communication aspect of his role in liaising with fellow doctors and regulatory bodies, stating, “Modern-day health care still has a lot of gaps. This is where I think we can smartly use artificial intelligence to bridge that gap, or at least reduce that.”
