As AI becomes pervasive, CTOs need to talk to clients and educate their bosses

Published: January 23, 2026

Breaking News: Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. This bonus newsletter from Davos explores the strategic relationship between CEOs and chief technology officers. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning.In my previous life as a technology journalist, I wrote and edited countless stories about corporate chief technology officers (CTOs) emerging as key partners to their counterparts in the C-suite. When marketing functions became more data-driven, chief marketing officers clamored for attention from product and engineering. Today, chief financial officers (CFOs) push tech leaders to drive companies’ productivity gains from software and automation even as they scrutinize tech buying decisions.Now, as artificial intelligence (AI) and agents become pervasive at companies, CTOs have another executive to collaborate with: their bosses. In an interview with Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Cloudflare cofounder and CEO Matthew Prince and CTO Dane Knecht made the case for technology chiefs as strategic partners to CEOs.The C-suite syncs upPrince says Knecht has been instrumental in pushing him to adopt AI beyond fun use cases, such as creating amusing images for company slide presentations or invitations for his kid’s birthday party. “The best CTOs in the world are going to be the ones that are saying to even the 51-year-old or 61-year-old or 71-year-old CEOs, ‘You can do this too,’” says Prince, whose company provides customers with tools to protect and improve the performance of their websites. “And if you can do that, it’s going to actually help you build better companies.”It’s a sentiment echoed by Nacho De Marco, CEO of global software development company BairesDev. (BairesDev partnered with Fast Company on the event featuring Prince and Knecht.) He says his clients, who turn to the company to help scale their engineering teams, see AI as essential to their future. “When the CEO and CTO are aligned, that transition usually goes really well,” he says.Knecht, who started out as Cloudflare’s first product manager, eventually took a role building and leading the company’s emerging technologies and innovation (ETI) unit. Prince carved out 10% of the product and engineering budget for innovations that aren’t on any customer’s road map—and might even challenge Cloudflare’s existing business model. Prince credits the division with propelling the company’s growth, saying: “If Dane and the ETI team hadn’t existed, Cloudflare would be yet another CDN [content delivery network].”Knecht, in turn, says Prince always nudges him to be more ambitious. “You really don’t ever bring Matthew an idea where he says, ‘That’s a good idea,’” Knecht says. “He’ll say, ‘Eh, think bigger.’ It’s always, ‘Think bigger.’”Two roles, one strategyPrince says he was somewhat reluctant to promote Knecht to CTO because Knecht was doing such a good job running the innovation skunkworks. However, Prince was impressed with how well he interacted with customers. Knecht has, for now, retained the ETI team as part of his responsibilities.Indeed, the ability to build relationships with customers is essential for CTOs intent on proving their strategic value to their CEOs. Tal Cohen, president of Nasdaq, says CTOs need to be able to understand how clients use the products their tech teams are building. He also encourages CTOs to become tech translators for their CEOs, helping their bosses understand major technology shifts, whether it’s the latest announcement from Nvidia or a breakthrough in their own industry. “You need to demonstrate that you’re three-dimensional,” adds Cohen, who leads Nasdaq’s Market Services and Financial Technology divisions.Working with your tech leadsCEOs, how do you engage your CTO on strategy? And CTOs, how do you make sure that you are included in strategic conversations with your CEO? Send your examples and anecdotes to me at stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. We’ll share helpful examples in a future edition of the newsletter.Read more: the evolving C-suiteWhat’s behind the surge in CFOs becoming CEOsWhy so few human resources leaders become CEOsI’m a CMO who’s friends with my CFO

Overview

In the rapidly evolving technology landscape, this development marks a significant milestone. The implications extend far beyond immediate technical specifications, touching upon broader industry trends and future trajectories.

Industry analysts have been closely monitoring these developments, noting their potential to transform existing market dynamics and create new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Technical Analysis

The technical architecture demonstrates sophisticated engineering approaches combining multiple technologies into cohesive solutions. The implementation represents substantial development work and careful optimization.

• Advanced Integration: Sophisticated technology combination for optimal user experience.
• Performance Optimization: Careful balancing of speed and reliability across use cases.
• Security Features: Robust protections designed to safeguard user information.
• Ecosystem Compatibility: Seamless integration with existing platforms.

Market Analysis

The competitive landscape has been evolving rapidly with multiple players vying for market share. This development represents a significant move that competitors will need to address in their strategies.

Market research indicates strong consumer interest with demand projected to increase substantially. The addressable market represents significant revenue potential.

Practical Applications

Real-world applications span numerous scenarios, each benefiting from unique capabilities. Early adopters report positive experiences across diverse applications.

For business users, productivity benefits translate into measurable cost savings. Consumer applications emphasize convenience and intuitive ease of use.

Expert Perspectives

Technology experts who evaluated this development share generally positive assessments. While noting some limitations, the consensus is that this represents meaningful advancement.

FAQ

What are the key specifications?

Specifications include advanced sensors, efficient power management, and robust connectivity. Every aspect is optimized for real-world performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

How does this compare?

Compared to alternatives, this offers competitive or superior features in most categories. The overall package represents excellent value for mainstream users.

What is the expected lifespan?

Hardware design suggests 3-5 years lifespan under normal use. Manufacturers typically provide several years of software updates and support.

Future Outlook

Continued innovation is anticipated in this space. Next-generation products will likely address current limitations while adding new capabilities driven by technology advances.

Conclusion

This development represents significant advancement offering meaningful benefits across applications. The overall package delivers strong value that should satisfy most user needs.

Source: fastcompany | Published: January 23, 2026