More CEOs are building themselves a digital twin, a CEO Agent or a CEO avatar. Whatever you call this AI replicant, it is becoming increasingly prevalent at the CEO level globally. The whys range from time constraints to vanity. But the what of this trend is the fascinating part.
What will these CEO digital twins do, and what value will they ultimately provide? Will they become so skilled that the CEO becomes obsolete? That is a conversation worth deconstructing.
What an AI twin is
At its core, a digital twin is a highly advanced simulation of a physical being. Based on the amount and quality of data, it is fed the more exacting representation it is. If you had the appetite to create your own, it could look exactly like you, have your voice, cadence and mannerisms and respond to questions as you would.
The main caveat to this creation is that you must have high-quality, clean data. That data must be relevant to you and reflect your history so it performs as you when deployed. Secondly, your company needs a robust quality infrastructure to handle the data being supplied. Without both of these working at max capacity in harmony, a digital twin will fail to meet expectations.
The CEOs of Zoom, Klara, and Meta have or are in the process of creating one of their own. Their likeness, their voice, and, based on the data inputted, their expected responses and decisions will be produced on demand. But what freedom will these digital twins have?
What an AI twin will do
These digital twins are not being created to take over an enterprise. They will not be making decisions on partnerships, hiring, or head count reductions. They will be used to create space in the CEO’s calendar.
In my week as a CEO, my list of priorities grows daily. Every member of the team has something they want to discuss or report upon. I do not have the time for one-to-ones with everyone whilst also running the company and maintaining a growing vision. So, I must draw a line between where I am wanted and where I am needed.
Where a CEO is needed is where a digital twin would be used. CEOs do not need to be in every project update meeting, every check-in, every onboarding session or every quarterly report meeting. They are wanted there and want to be there, but it is neither feasible nor best for the organization for them to try to be everywhere all the time. A digital twin can appear, make opening statements, then record with complete accuracy and report back to the CEO. Then, when the CEO is needed, they have all the pertinent information at the ready to ask informed questions that benefit the business.
But as a CEO, I know there are certain things a digital twin could never perfect.
The skills an AI twin will never replace
What you cannot replicate within the walls of AI are the most important ingredients to a CEO: instinct, intuition, confidence, command and calm. AI cannot look someone in the eye and know that there is something not being said. AI cannot scan a room during a presentation and tell that the tone is wrong and the message is not being received. It cannot inform a team of a change of course, nor can it reassure and convince them all that this decision is correct and will benefit all in attendance. AI cannot come to the team after a setback and deliver a calm, steady message.
CEOs who focus their time and intellect on these skills and abilities will continue to serve their organizations. Those who try to AI everything away and leave all decisions to data and automation will lose their human team and lose their company. AI is best used to address inefficiencies, streamline antiquated processes, automate the mundane and free up time. It is not best used for leading an organization. That is the job of a CEO. A human CEO.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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