The Chief AI Officer: Scientist, Architect, Coach — Rania Khalaf, WSO2
Chief AI Officer role adoption surged from 11% to 76% in companies within two years
“even IBM studies conducted a year apart show growth: 11% in 2024, 26% in 2025, and now 76%”
WSO2's AI Director Rania Khalaf outlines how the Chief AI Officer role is rapidly proliferating across enterprises, with IBM data showing adoption jumping from 11% in 2024 to 76% now. She frames the role across three functions — scientist, architect, and coach — with scope varying by company type and AI maturity. The signal here is organizational: AI leadership is institutionalizing fast, but the role remains poorly standardized.