Chief Intelligence Officers? How Gen AI is rewiring the CXO's Brain

Not long ago, executive strategy hinged on experience, instinct, and PowerPoint decks.

- Aanchal Ghatak

Today, those tools are being joined—and in some cases, outpaced—by something far more dynamic: Generative AI. “GenAI isn’t here to replace executive judgment—it’s here to challenge it, expand it, and accelerate it,” says Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. As the technology matures, it’s quietly redefining what it means to lead in a data-driven world.

The executive playbook is being rewritten—line by line, prompt by prompt. What began as a buzzword is now being hardwired into the strategic core of some of the world’s most forward-looking enterprises.

Generative Al is no longer the domain of experimental labs or marketing teams; it’s in the boardroom, shaping high-stakes decisions with unprecedented speed and scale. But what does that look like behind the scenes?

To find out, we spoke to Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, whose research maps the evolving relationship between CXOs and GenAI. From market simulations and AI-powered ideation to rethinking risk and leadership culture, Chandrasekaran offers a grounded, insider view of how the C-suite is learning to think alongside machines—and what it takes to lead responsibly in this new era of intelligence. Excerpts:

Based on Gartner's research, how are CXOs currently integrating Generative Al into their strategic and operational decision-making processes?

Generative Al is making a significant impact in various strategic and operational domains, helping CXOs make faster, data-driven decisions. Key areas where it's being leveraged include:

Market Intelligence - With Generative AI tools expanding to deep research, they are able to summarise industry reports, synthesise competitive intelligence, and even simulate “what-if” scenarios. The benefit of this is faster, broader insight generation to support market entry, M&A, or portfolio strategy.