"AI Will Take Jobs?"... US AI Executives Increase Sixfold

AI Executives Increase from 19 to 122
Considering Synergy and Risks Between AI and Existing Work

Contrary to the widespread prediction that generative artificial intelligence (AI), which has become a global hot topic, will eliminate jobs, it has been found that companies are currently creating AI executive positions and significantly increasing related job opportunities. Even companies unrelated to AI are rushing to establish AI-related executive roles, promoting them as part of their innovation achievements, which is interpreted as a reason for the increase in such executive positions. However, the outlook that the AI industry will eventually mature and pose a threat to all existing office jobs is expected to persist.

On the 29th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing figures from the global corporate hiring site Glassdoor, that as of December last year, the number of executives in U.S. companies holding titles such as 'Senior AI Officer' or 'Vice President of AI' surged from 19 in 2022 to 122. This means that AI-related executive positions increased more than sixfold in one year.

Following the example of existing titles like Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the title 'Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO)' is also rapidly spreading. NYT pointed out that as AI has emerged as a key issue not only in the IT industry but across sectors such as finance and distribution, creating CAIO positions in companies is regarded as part of their innovation efforts.

AI executives currently serve as managers who seek ways to integrate AI technology into existing tasks to maximize synergy. They are also responsible for comprehensively considering issues such as preparing for risks that AI technology may bring in the future and how it can change employees' working methods.

In fact, these executives work not only in general IT companies but also in various fields such as law firms, insurance companies, and government agencies. In December last year, NYT appointed an editorial head for 'AI Initiatives,' and credit information company Equifax and law firm Eversheds Sutherland competed to appoint AI executives.

AI executives have also entered the medical field. In September last year, the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. created the position of 'AI Officer' for the first time in a hospital system. They appointed Dr. Babik Patel, an AI-specialized radiologist, who has a track record of developing and operating AI models that find hidden data in ultrasounds to facilitate the diagnosis of rare heart diseases.

NYT stated, "More than 400 departments and agencies have started seeking AI executives to comply with the executive order by U.S. President Joe Biden, which established AI regulations."

NYT reported that such new executive positions typically emerge when new technologies gain attention and an era of change begins. In the 1980s, as computer literacy became important, executives with titles such as Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer appeared. After the 2008 financial crisis, data officers emerged as executives to manage how companies use data.

In response, Karin Kimbro, Senior Economist at LinkedIn, analyzed, "Eventually, AI will evolve to be embedded in everyone's jobs," adding, "There will come a moment when AI is applied to various roles so deeply that even specialized AI positions will disappear."