Q&A with Joel Carusone, SVP of Data and AI, NinjaOne, who says a proactive, strategic approach to AI will be key to ensure that the months ahead can be a time of business transformation, efficiency and long-term company success.
How is the advancement of AI shaping the role of the CIO in 2025?
This year, CIOs will likely find themselves at a pivotal crossroads, as artificial intelligence continues to upend traditional business operating models. AI adoption is happening at an astounding pace, almost twice as fast as the adoption of the internet and personal computers in the same time span.
For this reason, many CIOs will likely feel as if they’re spinning plates in 2025. They’ll face the daunting task of integrating AI within their organisation’s framework whilst handling an increasingly complex tech stack. These pressures are likely to be further compounded by a widening IT skills gap and a more distributed workforce. Many leaders are already struggling, with 75% of CIOs reporting difficulties in balancing AI usage in the enterprise with existing IT operational excellence.
How can CIOs address these sorts of challenges?
To truly unlock AI’s potential and demonstrate ROI within the business, CIOs need to lay the right groundwork. You can’t plan to roll out a new AI tool unless your company’s underlying technology environment is already robust, secure, and scalable.
CIOs need to articulate these challenges across the wider business. They must act as the experts in the room with intimate knowledge of technology and be able to answer questions like: ‘What happens to the business when AI goes sideways?’ Especially as AI regulations become more firmly outlined and enforced, we’ll see more organisations opting for a Board model that accounts for AI expertise to support the businesses’ own longevity and ensure customer security.
Equally, CIOs will need to act as advocates for their IT teams to senior leadership more than ever before. IT managers will likely be under strain, managing thousands of devices, applications and requests before they even start to draw up a roadmap for AI implementation. Though AI or any other technology alone will not solve all IT’s challenges, CIOs should be considering how to implement automation tools in a strategic and focused way within their teams. Automation will help to relieve at least some of the burden associated with routine, time-consuming tasks, freeing up IT teams to strategize on future technological endeavours.
Is every stakeholder in the business now responsible for successful AI deployment?
Because AI is no longer an isolated technology, but rather deeply embedded into the foundation of modern business operations, it has become every stakeholder’s responsibility. CIOs and other leaders in the C-suite will increasingly be held accountable for AI-driven outcomes, both positive and negative. It’s no longer a niche concern delegated to IT specialists. Every executive leadership team should be looking to understand AI strategies and ensure they are both robust and impactful.
What are some key considerations for CIOs when it comes to AI initiatives?
First and foremost, CIOs must move beyond fragmented approaches and instead champion AI initiatives that unify various departments. AI implementation should break down silos, foster interdepartmental collaboration, and align with overarching business objectives.
From governance frameworks to ethical considerations, a well-structured strategy will be instrumental in ensuring responsible and effective AI deployments. CIOs who proactively address AI complexities will not only mitigate risk but also position their organisations for sustainable innovation.
Should CIOs be ‘innovating now’ and ‘regulating later’?
CIOs need to balance differentiation with resilience. Though technological advancements provide a competitive advantage, innovation must not come at the cost of security and stability. The temptation to use AI everywhere should be tempered with a commitment to fundamental IT and security best practices.
As organisations increasingly navigate a landscape fraught with uncertainty, strong data management underpins resilience. Backups, cloud storage, rigorous data audits and automated device management are the foundation of a sustainable technology strategy.
However, they must be incorporated with an understanding of the current and future technology landscape. For example, the growth of SaaS applications and connected devices means CIOs should look to implement solutions that support not just these endpoints but also the users behind them.
With the right strategies in place, CIOs can drive innovation while safeguarding their organisations from potential vulnerabilities such as unpatched systems, shadow applications, and unauthorised access. A balanced approach – one that fosters both technological curiosity and operational stability – will be key to long-term success.
What are some practical steps CIOs can take today to address the challenges we’ve discussed?
CIOs can first consider where automation-driven efficiencies have the potential to enhance productivity across the business, creating a more agile IT environment and reducing burnout across teams. Automation will ensure that areas such as configurations, installations, monitoring, endpoint management and network operations remain consistent, reducing the likelihood of human error. Critically, these tools free up valuable time for IT professionals to focus on more strategic work, including AI deployment, giving it the thoughtfulness and consideration it requires.
I’d advise CIOs and their peers to focus on empowering IT managers, allowing them to integrate AI capabilities into broader business objectives where appropriate, while also maintaining the stability and security of critical systems.
A proactive, strategic approach to AI will be key to ensure that the months ahead can be a time of business transformation, efficiency and long-term company success.
