Navigating the AI Landscape as a CTO

Keeping current with the latest developments in AI is a full-time job.

Naveed Asem (MSIT '14) knows that firsthand.

Asem was recently named chief technology officer (CTO) at Oaktree Capital Management, an investment firm with more than $200 billion in assets under management. In his role, Asem is helping lead a technological transformation, making sure the firm is using AI-infused solutions to create value for clients, partners, and employees.

"The role of the CTO has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, particularly with the advent of AI," Asem said. "It’s no longer solely about managing infrastructure, cybersecurity, or merely connecting systems and data. Instead, it's now fundamentally about strategically leveraging technology to drive core business growth."

Asem teaches this vital lesson as part of his Artificial Intelligence and Automation course in Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program. Each year, Asem finds himself needing to update substantial portions of the curriculum to keep pace with the relentless advancements in AI.

This year, more than 70 percent of the course content is entirely new.

Beyond the foundational technological shifts driven by AI, Asem’s curriculum extensively covers its broader impact, implications, and cutting-edge advancements in areas like generative AI and agentic AI. These are not just theoretical concepts; they represent the forefront of AI development and application.

AI offers unprecedented opportunities for enhanced automation, more personalized customer experiences, and predictive analytics that yield genuinely transformative insights for businesses.

"CTOs are now directly tasked with ensuring that AI initiatives correlate with tangible business outcomes," said Asem, who also serves on the MSIT Industry Advisory Board. "This involves making data-driven decisions that not only improve efficiency but also actively foster new revenue streams."

Integrating AI at scale raises complex security, ethical, and governance considerations, so establishing robust frameworks for responsible AI is crucial. These frameworks must actively address algorithmic bias, safeguard data privacy, and help organizations navigate rapidly evolving regulatory landscapes.

"Company executives must proactively shape AI policies that align with organizational values and societal expectations," Asem said. "It is a balancing act, though. It is easy to put too many guardrails around AI use, which can slow down the acceleration of AI-driven transformation or sheer adoption."

Making sure an organization is set up with smart AI policies only goes so far when it comes to actual implementation. It's essential that employees understand and embrace the usage of AI for it to be effective. To do that, it's important businesses provide training opportunities while also promoting a culture that encourages cross-functional collaboration, Asem said.

That training and encouragement is what Asem provides in his MSIT course. Students learn how to use agentic AI frameworks to help re-engineer business processes, as well as what it takes to increase enterprise adoption and safeguarding of AI.

By the end of the course, students gain a deeper understanding of why deep AI literacy coupled with strong business acumen is fundamental for CTOs today.

"The CTO's role has evolved to encompass not only technical expertise but also strategic vision and ethical responsibility," Asem said. "Those who successfully navigate this evolution will be instrumental in shaping the future of technological leadership."