Every CIO will have a ‘responsible AI’ mandate
Just as security and compliance became non-negotiable pillars of technology leadership, responsible AI practices will move from optional to essential. CIOs won’t just be asked how they’re adopting AI; they’ll be held accountable for ensuring models are transparent, explainable, and free from harmful bias.
Governance frameworks that satisfy regulators, boards, and customers alike will become a strategic imperative, not just a legal one. These frameworks will need to span the entire AI lifecycle — from data sourcing, to model training, to deployment, and ongoing monitoring — with clear lines of ownership, regular audits, and documented risk assessments.
This mandate will expand the CIO’s role beyond technology deployment into ethics, trust, and risk management, making responsible AI a central part of the CIO agenda in 2026.
