Crucial conversations for an AI era

The relationship between the CIO and the CEO has never mattered more. Today, technology isn’t just an enabler; it’s right at the center of every big strategic decision companies are making to stay ahead in volatile and disrupted markets. The rise of AI, and the way it’s dominating so many conversations, has only made that reality even clearer.And yet, despite all that, there’s often still a gap at the very top. A new report (Crucial Conversations: How to Achieve CIO-CEO Alignment in the Era of AI) has now revealed exactly what this gap looks like, with the aim of providing a practical guide to help CIOs build bridges through more productive collaboration with their CEO. A call for alignment between CIOs and CEOsThe researchers found that nearly two in five CIOs (39%) report feeling misaligned with their CEO on key decisions. A significant percentage (31%) aren’t confident they know what their CEO truly wants, and 34% feel disempowered to make long-term strategic calls.These numbers are surprisingly honest and show a widespread disconnection that goes deeper than a few mismatched priorities.

They appear to point to communication breakdowns and a lack of shared understanding, which, left unchecked, could cripple an organization’s agility and future success.Among a wealth of other insights, the researchers discovered an “innovation disconnect.” CEOs say they want a rational approach that prioritizes business value over “new toys,” with many worrying their CIOs are too eager to adopt emerging tech without fully considering costs or disruption. However, a contradiction becomes clear when it comes to AI. CEOs are excited about the potential, and issuing an explicit mandate of adoption for CIOs: deliver measurable business value and reduce costs, while also acting as the gatekeeper against overspending. There’s a lot of tension to unpack in that, and the expectations don’t just stop at implementation. CEOs expect CIOs to play a central role in governing AI, ensuring it is used ethically, and integrating machine and human productivity in ways that make sense for the business. In some cases, this is pushing CIOs into new territory, evolving into de facto HR leaders for the agentic AI workforce.

It’s a dramatic expansion of the role that now combines IT, operations, and people strategy.A catalyst for transformationCrucial Conversations isn’t just another report to skim; it’s a call to action. It gives CIOs a window into how CEOs are really thinking, and helps put those priorities in the broader strategic context every CIO needs to navigate.If you’re a CIO under pressure to modernize with limited funding, struggling to frame the business value of emerging tech, or working through the ethical and organizational challenges of AI, this report will resonate.In a time of rapid technological change and constant uncertainty, CEO-CIO alignment is not optional; it is a requirement for enterprise success. This report offers a roadmap to build that alignment, strengthen communication at the very top, and help organizations thrive in the age of AI.Download your copy of Crucial Conversations: How to Achieve CIO-CEO Alignment in the Era of AI here.