Generative AI is dissolving the economic logic that made standardized enterprise software the only practical choice for most companies. What replaces it will be shaped not just by the rapidly evolving capabilities of this new technology, but by leaders willing to ask a harder question: Which workflows do we actually need to own?
The most violent move came in a single session when Anthropic announced that its Claude Code tool is positioned as an ideal solution for code modernization, including COBOL legacy system work. That announcement hit IBM where it hurts most. A significant portion of IBM's consulting revenue comes from exactly that kind of work: helping large enterprises modernize aging mainframe and legacy codebases.
This role is all about thinking how you can use your experience and keep yourself up to pace with the advancement that is happening in the technology world. As CIO, you must ensure you understand market insights, so that you know what's happening in the business, what's happening in the industry, and then continue to push your stakeholders on future-proofing your organisation.
