With over 17 years in the IT industry and more than a decade at Gartner, Shubhangi Vashisth, Director Analyst, has closely tracked how the role of artificial intelligence is expanding within enterprise strategy. As AI becomes deeply embedded in operations, governance has evolved from a side note to a strategic imperative.
“AI governance is no longer optional—it’s essential,” emphasizes Vashisth.
The shift is clear: governance is no longer something organisations retrofit after launching AI initiatives. It must be embedded from day one. Generative AI, in particular, introduces unique challenges—ranging from hallucinations and explainability to privacy risks—that require proactive guardrails.
Navigating risk while powering innovation
Vashisth points to a growing trend among enterprises: embedding responsible AI principles into their core strategy. This is especially evident in sectors like BFSI and healthcare, where risk thresholds are low. Organisations are increasingly turning to agile frameworks that evolve over time and can adapt to dynamic environments.
One of the most notable advancements is the adoption of real-time risk monitoring systems like AI TRiSM (AI Trust, Risk and Security Management), which allow governance to happen during runtime instead of just at the design stage.
“The idea is to govern AI at runtime, not just in design,” she explains.
This dynamic model of governance enables faster experimentation without compromising accountability.
The rise of content-aware automation
Another key area of transformation is Intelligent Document Processing (IDP). Building on decades of optical character recognition (OCR), IDP now powers automation across document-heavy workflows in industries like finance and insurance.
From customer onboarding to claims management, IDP systems ingest, classify, and interpret unstructured data with increasing sophistication. Vashisth sees the next leap as multimodal analytics—tools that combine text, images, audio, and video with structured data to unlock richer insights.
“Content-aware automation is where IDP is headed,” she observes.
Charting the CIO’s strategic path
For CIOs leading digital transformations, Vashisth outlines five practical strategies to ensure success:
- Invest in data products: Treat data and metadata as reusable, governed assets.
- Prioritise metadata management: Especially in environments rich in multimodal content.
- Embed AI governance early: Don’t wait for regulation—be proactive.
- Leverage AI agents: Use intelligent agents for monitoring, alerts, and compliance.
- Stay agile: Build frameworks that can evolve with rapid technological change.
These strategies help CIOs balance the dual mandate of speed and security.
The talent equation in an AI-driven world
The rise of AI has also triggered a shift in talent demand. Technical roles such as AI architects and engineers now require proficiency in modular and composable systems. But just as critical are human-centric roles—behavioural scientists, change managers, and translators who bridge the gap between AI capabilities and business goals.
“AI literacy is as important as AI capability,” Vashisth asserts.
Adoption success doesn’t rest solely on infrastructure. It requires trust, transparency, and human alignment.
Looking ahead: The next frontier for enterprise AI
In her upcoming session, Shubhangi will drive home three central ideas:
- Data is the Differentiator: Public AI models are available to all—your proprietary data defines your edge.
- Multimodal is the Future: Enterprises must harness diverse content types for meaningful insights.
- Governance Enables Innovation: With the right frameworks, governance fuels—not frustrates—speed and creativity.
Trust as a strategic advantage
In today’s enterprise landscape, success in AI is not just about adopting the latest tools—it’s about governing them wisely. Vashisth offers a compelling vision for CIOs – create environments where governance is the engine, not the brake.
By turning trust into a strategic advantage, organisations can navigate the complexities of modern AI while staying ahead of the curve.
