Chief information officers are taking the lead to guide adoption of generative AI

In recent discussions between KPMG LLP and chief Information officers (CIOs), the CIOs talked about the potential adoption of generative AI to achieve maximum benefits with minimal risks. They also highlighted their obligation to educate their leadership about the impact and significance of GenAI beyond IT.

Key takeaways

• Organizations have already deployed GenAI, albeit to a limited extent, mostly for internal facing functions.
• CIOs recognized the risks associated with GenAI, such as inaccurate results and threats to intellectual property. Those in regulated industries are particularly cautious.
• To address GenAI risks, there are controls, such as “human in the loop” or “human owns the result,” that are critical, at least for now.
• Some CIOs have begun to build out responsible AI frameworks to help guide the deployment and use of GenAI throughout their organization.
• CIOs recognize they have knowledge gaps when it comes to GenAI and are willing to engage with third parties, such as advisers, consultants, and universities, for assistance.
• CIOs are proactively educating leadership about the benefits and drawbacks of GenAI, as well as managing expectations regarding its claims to increase productivity.
• CIOs see themselves as having a prominent, if not a leadership, role in the deployment of GenAI throughout the organization, not just in IT.