ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "Who Owns AI? Exploring the Role of the Chief AI Officer in Modern Businesses"
Episode Synopsis
Fredrik interviews Chris, a Chief AI Officer, to explore the evolving role of AI in business. They discuss the importance of having a dedicated AI leader who understands both technology and business operations, emphasising that this role should focus on optimising processes rather than being purely technical. Chris shares a compelling case study from a commercial construction client that achieved a 27% productivity increase through AI training, highlighting that small teams can yield significant results.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Chief AI Officer should be a non-technical executive who understands the business and can leverage generative AI to optimise operations and enhance productivity, rather than being solely focused on IT or data science.
Before implementing AI tools, companies should establish clear usage policies and provide training to ensure employees understand how to use AI responsibly and effectively, mitigating governance concerns.
Businesses can begin their AI journey with small pilot projects involving a limited number of team members, which can lead to significant improvements in productivity without the need for a large-scale rollout.
Many employees may use AI tools without the knowledge of their leaders, which can pose risks related to data privacy and security. Companies should proactively assess and manage this shadow usage.
Providing detailed context when interacting with AI tools can significantly enhance the quality of the output. Using dictation to convey thoughts and context can lead to more nuanced and relevant responses from AI models.
BEST MOMENTS
"If you focus on having it be an IT function, I think that if anything, they'll move slow and they'll complicate it. It really does need to be somebody on the team at the executive level."
"You don't have to start big. It doesn't have to be this huge enterprise-wide rollout. You can start with a small team."
"Most executives that we talk to may say, 'We don't allow AI to be used yet,' but the truth is, there's this concept called shadow usage."
"As soon as you actually pay for any of these LLMs, at least you create some kind of fundamental barrier."
"If AI and using AI to support you is not part of that learning curve for you, I would suggest that you have an expiration date for your expertise."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctordaigle/
ChiefAIOfficer.com
https://www.skool.com/invest-in-you-podcast-tribe-8617/about?ref=b436cf4ec1004048a6be80c1b1b27d60
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Serial entrepreneurs Fredrik, Charlie and Ivan Sandvall love sharing ideas and interviewing world-class entrepreneurs and influences. Invest In You is about investments, entrepreneurs, personal development and doing fun things. They hope to ensure you to take action, helping others and yourself, plus enjoying the journey we call life.
CONTACT METHOD
Fredrik Sandvall
www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/
https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/
Charlie Sandvall
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csandvall/
Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/Sandvall
Ivan Sandvall
Instagram @ivansandvall
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Chief AI Officer should be a non-technical executive who understands the business and can leverage generative AI to optimise operations and enhance productivity, rather than being solely focused on IT or data science.
Before implementing AI tools, companies should establish clear usage policies and provide training to ensure employees understand how to use AI responsibly and effectively, mitigating governance concerns.
Businesses can begin their AI journey with small pilot projects involving a limited number of team members, which can lead to significant improvements in productivity without the need for a large-scale rollout.
Many employees may use AI tools without the knowledge of their leaders, which can pose risks related to data privacy and security. Companies should proactively assess and manage this shadow usage.
Providing detailed context when interacting with AI tools can significantly enhance the quality of the output. Using dictation to convey thoughts and context can lead to more nuanced and relevant responses from AI models.
BEST MOMENTS
"If you focus on having it be an IT function, I think that if anything, they'll move slow and they'll complicate it. It really does need to be somebody on the team at the executive level."
"You don't have to start big. It doesn't have to be this huge enterprise-wide rollout. You can start with a small team."
"Most executives that we talk to may say, 'We don't allow AI to be used yet,' but the truth is, there's this concept called shadow usage."
"As soon as you actually pay for any of these LLMs, at least you create some kind of fundamental barrier."
"If AI and using AI to support you is not part of that learning curve for you, I would suggest that you have an expiration date for your expertise."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctordaigle/
ChiefAIOfficer.com
https://www.skool.com/invest-in-you-podcast-tribe-8617/about?ref=b436cf4ec1004048a6be80c1b1b27d60
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Serial entrepreneurs Fredrik, Charlie and Ivan Sandvall love sharing ideas and interviewing world-class entrepreneurs and influences. Invest In You is about investments, entrepreneurs, personal development and doing fun things. They hope to ensure you to take action, helping others and yourself, plus enjoying the journey we call life.
CONTACT METHOD
Fredrik Sandvall
www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/
https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/
Charlie Sandvall
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csandvall/
Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/Sandvall
Ivan Sandvall
Instagram @ivansandvall
More episodes of the podcast Invest in You
Strategies for Effective Brand Communication
14/11/2025
The Difference Between Doers and Dreamers
29/10/2025
Leveraging Your Past for Future Success
25/09/2025
In God we trust