Latest news with #CDAO
Forbes
27-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
At JPMorganChase, AI Innovation Is An Operating Committee Mandate
JPMorganChase What distinguishes artificial intelligence (AI) leaders from AI followers? A recent survey reported that 89% of Fortune 1000 companies recognize that artificial intelligence (AI) will be the most transformational technology in a generation. Love it or hate it, AI is inevitable. Organizations will need to adapt or risk falling behind. JPMorganChase (JPMorgan), the largest U.S. bank with origins tracing back over 225 years to 1799, is seizing upon the moment with a forward-looking long-term vision for AI, which is articulated in the company's mission for the future and embodied at all levels of the organization. This commitment to embracing AI is evident in the composition of the firm's 14-member Operating Committee, where Teresa Heitsenrether occupies a prominent position as chief data and analytics officer (CDAO) for the firm. JPMorgan is at the forefront--very few Fortune 1000 organizations have elevated the CDAO to an operating committee role. I recently hosted Heitsenrether on an industry panel of data and AI leaders, and follow up conversation. We discussed her leadership role at JPMorgan, and how the company is planning for and executing on its long-term vision for AI as a tool for innovation and industry transformation. A career JPMorgan veteran, Heitsenrether is responsible for establishing the data and analytics strategy as well as driving firmwide adoption of AI across lines of business. Having served as a line-of-business leader, most recently as the Global Head of Securities Services, Heitsenrether understands that AI leadership begins with a business strategy that recognizes, first and foremost, that AI is a technology tool which must deliver business benefits and business value to the company and to its customers. She explains, 'Coming from the business gives you a different lens. Having been at the firm for my whole career, I have a good perspective on the businesses and what's most important to them.' While some organizations think of AI as a technology issue—47% of CDAOs report into technology functions—a growing percentage of companies—36%--see AI as a business function that should report to the seniormost business leadership of the firm. JPMorgan exemplifies this shift to a business focus and mandate. Heitsenrether explains, 'AI is 100% a business issue. We have to begin with an understanding of our business objectives; where we want to grow, where we want to be more efficient, what markets we want to enter, what products we want to create; and then how, where, or if AI can be an enabler for this.' She continues, 'We always think about our AI and data agenda in the context of the business's broader strategic objectives.' Heitsenrether adds, 'AI in search of a problem is a bad strategy.' Establishing an AI and Data organizational culture remains an obstacle for most leading organizations--just 32% of organizations say that they had achieved this outcome and only 37% report having created an AI and Data driven organization–people and cultural issues being identified as the greatest impediments to successful business adoption. Leadership begins from the top of the organization at JPMorgan. Heitsenrether explains, 'We have a leadership team that has long recognized the importance of AI. The tone from the top really does matter in setting the expectations for the organization. When you do that, and you're clear, it permeates the organization.' Heitsenrether continues, 'I firmly believe that the advances we are seeing through AI are going to fundamentally change the way that we do business, and the scale and the scope at which we can do things. The fact that we created this corporate function for data and AI reflects how transformative we think this will be.' Business transformation requires cultural adaptation and changes to behavior and processes within any large and complex organization. Heitsenrether explains, 'You really need to think about how transformation it going to be introduced; what else changes in the organization; how do you roll out new capabilities to our customers.' She adds, 'I think there is a very deep culture within JPMorgan of continuous improvement. We're always looking at who the disruptors are and how we can do things better. Technology is a great enabler.' Adoption of new technology and new business processes represents a challenge for any organization. Heitsenrether explains, 'We've been very intentional about putting GenAI into the hands of all our employees. We are doing this through an internal platform we developed called LLM Suite. I think this has been a great cultural shift for the organization.' Heitsenrether continues, 'We didn't set a mandate that our people have to use the new AI platform, but they quickly discovered the benefits. Now, over half of our employees use the platform in their daily work.' She continues, 'We're still in the early stages. It has been both bottom-up ideas combined with a top-down perspective focused on the biggest areas of opportunity for our business and for our customers.' AI is on a path toward long-term adoption across JPMorgan. Heitsenrether comments, 'We are now understanding what's possible with AI technology.' She adds, 'As is often the case with new technologies, there's the 20% that are the early adopters, who become your ambassadors. They start learning how to use the new technology–in this case AI--and encourage and show others how to use it as well.' 'There's a natural curiosity', explains Heitsenrether. 'Everyone will try the new AI technology, but the challenge is making it applicable to what our employees do in their daily jobs.' She continues, 'Having AI ambassadors within the business help colleagues understand how to use AI to be more effective creates a next wave of adoption.' Delivering business value from data and AI investments remains a challenge for most organizations. Just 24% of companies surveyed reported having implemented AI in production at scale, and only 18% claimed to be delivering a high degree of measurable business value from their data and AI investments. Heitsenrether comments, 'We've already seen business value in a number of domains, including fraud management, pricing and risk management.' She continues, 'Generative AI opens new domains that weren't available before. An example is in our software engineering life cycle. We're also looking at using AI in customer coverage in our call centers.' Heitsenrether adds, 'We are using AI to help our agents better understand the customers intent, to provide customer answers quickly, and deliver a great service outcome.' She concludes, 'The best way to retain customers is to keep them happy' says Heitsenrether. Great data is the foundation for great AI. Heitsenrether explains, 'What's really shifting is the lens with which business leaders look at data. They recognize that data is a strategic asset for their business.' She elaborates, 'One of my biggest learnings in the last two years has been the importance of data. You have to have a good data foundation. Having access to clean, understandable data is critical to our success.' Heitsenrether notes, 'We run a very large financial services firm that's highly governed, so the fact that the business runs smoothly each and every day speaks to the quality of our data.' She concludes, 'The next wave in having good data will be making sure that our data is well understood and connected across the organization.' AI technology represents the culmination of seventy years of development, dating back to the origins of the term artificial intelligence–45% of companies have been employing forms of AI technology for at least a half decade, and in some cases for over a quarter century. Looking toward an AI future, Heitsenrether comments, 'I don't think that the expectations of AI are unfounded or overestimated. If anything, we may be underestimating what's going to be possible.' She continues, 'What we are realizing is that it's not just about the technology. It's about the enterprise's ability to adapt the technology, not just within financial services, but even more broadly across industries.' Heitsenrether continues, 'You have to know where you're heading. Our most senior leaders will be able to start thinking about remapping their businesses. That's just getting underway in earnest at this point. This will require a lot of thought and is an iterative process that starts with thinking about what's possible.' Reflecting on her tenure with the firm and her present mission, Heitsenrether notes, 'I've run a lot of big businesses at JPMorgan, with significant technology and operations components, so I understand how to execute through complexity. I also think having been responsible for running businesses helps me be a better partner to our business leaders who have many demands on their time.' She continues, 'At JPM, we're committed to being a leader in AI technology and that means we need everyone across the firm thinking about how they can maximize the use and value of AI. You need to be constantly learning. That message reaches people at all levels of the organization and becomes understood in the overall success of the firm and of your business.' In summation, Heitsenrether comments, 'It's been an honor to be in the CDAO seat at JPMorgan. The role is so strategically important to the future of the firm. It's an exciting moment, at a pivotal time. We are creating the culture, creating the guardrails, creating the policies, and creating the enablers.' 'AI will be transformational in ways that we haven't even thought of. It's not just about JPMorgan. We are doing something that is beneficial for our clients and our community, and we are doing it in the right way' continues Heitsenrether. She concludes, 'Our ethos is to Make Dreams Possible for everyone, everywhere, every day–AI technology can help with this by driving better outcomes for our customers. It's enormously exciting and beneficial.'
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kendrapada farmers face fertiliser shortage
1 2 Kendrapada: Farmers in the coastal district of Kendrapada are grappling with a severe shortage of fertilisers, raising concerns over potential crop failures and financial losses. Narendra Mallick, a 54-year-old farmer from Marsaghai, expressed his frustration, stating, "I am disappointed as I have not been able to get fertilisers from the registered dealers or the primary agriculture society. I have prepared my two acres of land for paddy cultivation, but the lack of fertilisers is distressing." Rabindra Behera, another farmer from Bharatpur village, echoed these concerns. "The fertiliser crisis at the beginning of the kharif season is a serious concern. Unscrupulous traders have stockpiled fertilisers, creating an artificial crisis, and the agriculture department has not made efforts to supply them on time," Behera said. The shortage has forced many farmers to purchase fertilisers at exorbitant rates from black marketeers, according to Umesh Chandra Singh, a farmers' leader and president of the district unit of krishak sabha. "We are demanding the immediate release of fertilisers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Otherwise, the paddy saplings will wither away, leading to huge losses," warned Ajaya Das, a farmer from Iswarapur village. Suresh Chandra Mallick, the chief district agriculture officer (CDAO) of Kendrapada, stated, "Around 3.6 lakh farmers in Kendrapada have raised paddy over 1.24 lakh hectares of land, requiring around 14,400 metric tonnes of fertiliser. We have received 5,120.42 metric tonnes from the govt and expect more soon. We have entrusted 121 primary agricultural cooperative societies to distribute fertilisers, and stringent action will be taken against those selling spurious fertilisers. " The early arrival of the monsoon had initially brought hope to the farmers, but the fertiliser shortage now threatens to derail the govt's plans to boost agriculture as a key development sector. "If the authorities do not act fast, paddy saplings in large areas will die," said Rajanikanta Behera, a farmer from Shyamsundarpur. Farmers' leader Ramani Ranjan Routray suggested that the agriculture department should promote the use of organic compost and vermicompost to reduce dependency on chemical fertilisers.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Odisha's Sundargarh introduces bakery units to boost millet items availability
ROURKELA: After expanding millets cultivation target to 13,050 hectares (ha) in the kharif crop season 2025 in Sundargarh district, as many as 12 bakery units have been roped in for value addition to the highly nutritious food grains. Sundargarh chief district agriculture officer (CDAO) LB Mallick said, under the Shree Anna Abhiyan (SAA), 12 bakery units across as many blocks received machineries to prepare cookies and other bakery products. The initiative aims to increase the availability of millet-based products in rural markets and boost consumption. Bakery units have been established in Hemgir, Lefripada, Tangarpali, Balishankara, Nuagaon, Kuanrmunda, Kutra, Rajgangpur, Lathikata, Bonai, Lahunipada and Gurundia blocks for manufacturing and marketing millet-based items. Each bakery unit received gas oven, planetary mixture and cookies cutting machine totalling Rs 5-6 lakhs. These units will procure millets from local farmers, farmer producers' groups or local markets. According to sources, out of 17 blocks in the district, millet production occurs in 15 blocks excluding Bisra and Koida. Three millet producing blocks-Sadar, Subdega, and Bargaon lack bakery units for paucity of fund. The SAA programme in seven of the 15 blocks is funded from the state plan, while remaining eight blocks are supported by Sundargarh district mineral foundation (DMF). The district operates 67 Millet Shakti Tiffin Centres run by women SHGs and selling various millet based snacks and foods.
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
xAI, Grok lands $200 million US defence contract
The United States government has awarded a defence contract worth up to $200 million to Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, just a week after its flagship chatbot, Grok, came under intense scrutiny for controversial posts. The award, made through the Department of Defense's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), names xAI as one of several recipients (alongside Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI) selected to help modernise AI capabilities across a range of military operations. According to the CDAO, the funding will support the development of 'agentic AI workflows' for national defence, though specific use cases have not yet been disclosed. The timing of the announcement has sparked controversy. Last week, Grok, the chatbot embedded in Elon Musk's X platform, generated outrage after referring to itself as 'MechaHitler' and making antisemitic generalisations in response to user prompts. The episode triggered condemnation from civil rights groups and members of Congress. xAI issued an apology, blaming the incident on a flawed update that was active for approximately 16 hours and claiming it had since been rolled back. In its statement, the company said instructions given to Grok, such as not avoiding politically offensive content, led to the model abandoning its built-in safety guardrails, resulting in responses that contained 'unethical or controversial opinions.' Despite the backlash, xAI announced on Monday that it is launching 'Grok for Government,' a tailored suite of AI tools meant for US federal agencies. Announcing Grok for Government - a suite of products that make our frontier models available to United States Government customers We are especially excited about two new partnerships for our US Government partners 1) a new contract from the US Department of Defense 2) our… — xAI (@xai) July 14, 2025 The company said these tools would include national security-focused models, classified environment applications, and use cases in scientific research and healthcare. Access to xAI products will also expand via the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, making them more widely available across departments. Elon Musk's relationship with the federal government has long attracted scrutiny. As head of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk played a prominent role in reshaping contracting processes, but concerns about conflicts of interest persisted. Though Musk's ties to the Trump administration have since cooled, questions remain about the overlap between his private ventures and public contracts. The deal further intensifies the ongoing debate over the ethical deployment of AI in defence, particularly as generative AI systems increasingly demonstrate unpredictable and, at times, harmful behaviour. Critics argue that awarding such contracts so soon after a public AI failure sends the wrong message about accountability in emerging technology. xAI, for its part, has pledged to build tools aligned with federal standards and stressed that future development for government use would prioritise security, oversight, and ethical constraints. Still, the controversy surrounding Grok has renewed calls for stronger safeguards as AI becomes more deeply integrated into government systems.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk spent months slashing federal contracts — Now his AI company is celebrating a $200M Pentagon contract and new unit to get government business
Elon Musk's xAI has signed an important new customer: the U.S. government. The two-year old AI company—most recently in the news when its chatbot praised Hitler—said in a blog post Monday that it has launched a new division, called 'Grok with Government' and signed a contract worth up to $200 million with the Department of Defense. xAI also announced that it had been added to the General Services Administration schedule, meaning that xAI products will now be available for purchase across every government office and agency. xAI's new DoD contract is part of a new effort to develop AI agent workflows across a 'variety of mission areas,' the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office said in a press release, without giving many more specifics. Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic were also awarded up to $200 million contracts as part of the new effort, according to the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. A number of tech companies, including Meta, Amazon, and Google, have either started working with or upped their work with the U.S. government in the last year as the taboo in Silicon Valley of working with the Defense Department has fallen away. xAI's new ties with the Pentagon are likely to raise eyebrows, not least because just one week earlier, the company released an update to its Grok AI model that caused it to spew racist comments, including referring to itself as a 'MechaHitler.' There's also the fact that xAI's CEO, Musk, has spent the last six months trying to trim 'wasteful spending' in the government via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE claims to have saved $190 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars by July—in large part via cutting government contracts it said were outdated or wasteful (DOGE reportedly hasn't provided documentation or evidence for 40% of those cuts, and investigations and analysis into the cuts have suggested that these figures have been greatly exaggerated.) Now, xAI is vying to get the U.S. government to add many more contracts that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Another twist is that the Grok announcement comes at a time when existing government contracts at Musk's various companies appear to be on thin ice. In June, amid the very-public social media spat between Musk and Trump that began with Musk's criticisms of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' Trump threatened to cut all of Musk's government contracts across his various companies. Musk, in turn, had suggested he would decommission SpaceX's Dragon capsule, currently the primary way for NASA to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station and back to Earth. Musk's companies have notched more than $38 billion in contracts with the U.S. government over the years. xAI says that it wants to start servicing federal, local, state, and national security customers, and that, for these customers, it would start to build custom models for national security or 'critical science' applications that would be available in 'classified and other restricted environments' and that it would provide specific engineering support with USG-cleared engineers. While Musk is no longer working with DOGE, he remains well-connected in some government circles. One of his allies within the Trump Administration was Katie Miller, who had served as Mike Pence's press secretary when he was vice president during Trump's first presidency. Miller is also the wife of Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, and she has since started working for xAI since Musk left DOGE. On Monday, Miller was promoting xAI's new government plans on her social media account, saying that Grok was the 'only truth-seeking AI available to the US Government.' xAI and the Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment. GSA said it was working with 'several' AI solutions across various agencies and that it welcomes 'all American companies and models who abide by our terms and conditions.' This story was originally featured on
