A CEO’s Guide to Generative AI

The release of ChatGPT in late 2022 created a groundswell of interest in generative AI. Within hours, users experimenting with this new technology had discovered and shared myriad productivity hacks. In the weeks and months since, organizations have scrambled to keep pace—and to defend against unforeseen complications. Some organizations have already adopted a more formal approach, creating dedicated teams to explore how generative AI can unlock hidden value and improve efficiency.

For CEOs, however, generative AI poses a much bigger challenge. Today’s focus might be on productivity gains and technical limitations, but a revolution in business-model innovation is coming. Much as Mosaic, the world’s first free web browser, ushered in the internet era and upended the way we work and live, generative AI has the potential to disrupt nearly every industry—promising both competitive advantage and creative destruction. The implication for leaders is clear: today’s breathless activity needs to evolve into a generative AI strategy owned by the C-suite.