Source: Bloomberg (paywall)
MBA programs are betting on a job title that lacks standardized responsibilities, compensation benchmarks, or clear reporting lines—essentially creating curriculum for a position that's still being improvised in real time. This mirrors the early-stage hype cycle of other executive roles (Chief Digital Officer, Chief Data Officer) that either consolidated into existing functions or proved far narrower than anticipated. It exposes the pressure schools face to appear cutting-edge and justify premium tuition in a credential-saturated market. If companies continue operating without clear AI governance structures, these programs risk training students for a role that may fragment into technical, strategic, and compliance tracks rather than consolidate into a unified C-suite position.