Who Should Be the Head of AI in Your Company?

AI is everywhere these days—so much so that you’d think it’s a magical wand that’ll fix all of your company’s problems. Spoiler alert: it’s not. AI is only as good as the person using it, and it certainly won’t work miracles without clear instructions and a strong team behind it. So, if you're running a tech scale-up and thinking, "Who should lead our AI efforts?"—you’re asking the right question. Let’s dive into it.

1. AI: The Tool That Needs a Human Touch

AI is like that fancy new coffee machine in the office. It looks cool, it can do incredible things, but without someone who knows how to operate it, you’re just staring at a shiny piece of metal. Simply put, AI won’t fix anything unless you have people who know how to make it work for your business. Think of AI as generative—it needs context, instructions, and a solid framework before it can churn out anything meaningful. Just like you wouldn’t expect a new hire to hit the ground running on Day 1 without proper onboarding, you shouldn’t expect AI to perform without the right setup.

2. AI is No Magic Bullet

Here’s a common misconception: “We’ll just buy this AI tool, and poof—all our problems will be solved.” Sorry to burst your bubble, but AI can’t solve what you haven’t clearly defined. If you don’t know what your problems are or what outcomes you want, even the most advanced AI will be as useful as a screen door on a submarine. So before you get too excited about AI, sit down with your team, and map out the actual problems you need AI to solve.

3. You Must Invest in Both AI and People

Newsflash: AI isn’t a replacement for people—it’s a tool that amplifies their efforts. So, if you want to see ROI from your AI investment, you need subject matter experts to drive it. And that brings us to the real question: Who should be your Head of AI?

Let’s say you’re a tech scale-up. You’ve been in the market for a while, have some proven success metrics, and are looking for your next funding round or market expansion. You’ve got a few processes in place, and now you're thinking about leveraging AI. The first step isn’t running out to hire the most tech-savvy person you can find. No, the first step is having a high-level business discussion. What are your problems? What are the outcomes you want AI to deliver?

4. Clean Data is Everything

Here’s where things can go sideways: if your data hygiene is a mess, no AI in the world will save you. So, if your data is as messy as your Monday morning inbox, your first hire should probably be a data specialist—not an AI guru. But if your data is already in good shape, your Head of AI should be someone who knows how to look at that data, understand your business goals, and pick the right tools to close the gaps.

And here’s a common pitfall: don’t confuse roles. If you want to drive from point A to point B, you need a driver, not a car mechanic. Similarly, if you’re adding AI tools, you want someone who can leverage those tools—not someone who builds them from scratch. The Head of AI should be the person who connects the dots between departments, understands the big picture, and gets everyone on the same page.

5. Assembling the Dream AI Team

Once you’ve got your Head of AI and your data is clean, you need to build out the team. Here’s what your ideal AI team should look like:

• Data Specialist: The cleaner of all data messes. Without good data, AI is just glorified guesswork.
• AI Technician: This person knows the AI tools like the back of their hand and can make sure everything runs smoothly.
• AI Prompt Engineer: This is the entrepreneur of your AI team—the one who programs the AI to meet your business needs. They should have strong business acumen and be able to think strategically.
• Policy Writers: You’ll need people at the executive level to write policies that ensure the ethical and effective use of AI.
• Trainer: You’ll also need someone who can train staff to use AI effectively and integrate it into their workflows.
• Project Manager: This person oversees the whole AI project, making sure timelines, goals, and KPIs are met.

And remember, this team doesn’t need to be external hires. You might already have talented people within your organization who can fill these roles. Promoting from within can ensure that your AI team has a strong grasp of the company culture and goals.

6. AI Success = Technical + Business Acumen

For AI to truly work for your organization, your AI team needs to balance technical expertise with business know-how. Your Head of AI needs to communicate with stakeholders, align projects with business objectives, and make sure that the team delivers value where it counts.

AI isn’t some magical fix-all—it’s a tool that needs a strategic, well-rounded team behind it. Your Head of AI should be a person who knows how to bridge the gap between tech and business, ensuring that AI isn’t just a shiny new gadget, but a tool that drives your company’s growth.

Have you started building your AI team? Share your thoughts on what’s worked (or hasn’t) for your business!

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