Head of AI
Also known as: VP of AI, Director of AI, AI lead
Head of AI is the catch-all title for the person running an organization's AI function when that function isn't yet large enough or senior enough for a dedicated C-suite executive. In practice, the role spans a wide range: at a 50-person startup, it might mean a technical lead who also owns the product roadmap for AI features; at a 5,000-person enterprise, it might mean managing multiple teams across model development, deployment, and governance.
The responsibilities typically include hiring and structuring the AI team, choosing which models and infrastructure to build on, managing relationships with AI vendors and API providers, and communicating AI capabilities and limitations to the rest of the company. A strong Head of AI translates between technical realities and business priorities without losing fidelity in either direction.
The title matters less than the remit. Whether someone is called Head of AI, VP of Machine Learning, or Director of Applied AI, what builders care about is: does this person have the authority to make real decisions, the technical credibility to set standards, and the organizational access to unblock work? That combination is still relatively rare, which is why well-qualified people in this role are in high demand.