What does a vice president of artificial intelligence do?

1 Role and responsibilities

A vice president of artificial intelligence (VP of AI) is a senior executive who oversees the strategy, vision, and execution of AI initiatives in an organization. A VP of AI is expected to have a deep understanding of the current and emerging trends, technologies, and applications of AI, as well as the business needs, challenges, and opportunities of the organization. A VP of AI is responsible for defining the AI roadmap, setting the goals and metrics, managing the budget and resources, and ensuring the alignment and collaboration of various teams and stakeholders involved in AI projects. A VP of AI also acts as a champion and advocate for AI within and outside the organization, communicating the value proposition, benefits, and ethical implications of AI to customers, partners, regulators, and the public.

2 Skills and qualifications

To become a vice president of artificial intelligence, one needs to have a combination of technical, business, and leadership skills. On the technical side, a VP of AI should have a strong background in computer science, mathematics, statistics, and engineering, as well as proficiency in various AI domains, such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. A VP of AI should also be familiar with the tools, frameworks, platforms, and methodologies used to design, develop, test, deploy, and monitor AI solutions, such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, AWS, Azure, Agile, and DevOps. On the business side, a VP of AI should have a solid understanding of the industry and market dynamics, the customer and user needs, the competitive landscape, and the regulatory and ethical standards related to AI. A VP of AI should also have the ability to translate the business objectives into AI solutions, measure and evaluate the impact and return on investment of AI initiatives, and identify and mitigate the risks and challenges of AI adoption. On the leadership side, a VP of AI should have excellent communication, presentation, and persuasion skills, as well as the ability to inspire, motivate, and empower the AI team and other stakeholders. A VP of AI should also have the vision, creativity, and innovation to drive the AI strategy and culture in the organization, as well as the judgment, integrity, and accountability to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI.

4 Career path and salary

A vice president of artificial intelligence is a high-level and high-demand position in the AI field, as more and more organizations are investing in and adopting AI solutions to enhance their performance, efficiency, and competitiveness. A VP of AI can work in various sectors and industries, such as technology, healthcare, finance, education, entertainment, manufacturing, and agriculture, as well as in different types of organizations, such as corporations, startups, nonprofits, or government agencies. A VP of AI can also advance to higher positions, such as chief technology officer, chief innovation officer, or chief executive officer, depending on their goals and aspirations. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a vice president of artificial intelligence in the United States is $219,285 per year, with a range of $130,000 to $350,000 per year, depending on the location, industry, and experience of the candidate.

5 Here’s what else to consider

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