As companies race to deploy artificial intelligence in ways that aim to make them better at operating, hiring, and competing, they're also chasing after top AI talent, including filling the position of chief AI officer. A lot of these companies, Doonan said, "can't really articulate what they want, why they want it, and what are the outcomes that they're looking for." "All I could think is that you could change the word 'cowbell' to 'AI,'" Doonan said. Without that understanding, Doonan said companies are going to hire "somebody really senior and they're going to be doing [data] clean-up for the next two years. Of course, that hasn't stopped companies from wanting to add a chief AI officer to their ranks.

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