This book offers a guide to the evolving role of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in the age of artificial intelligence, providing practical tools for navigating leadership, innovation, and product development in AI-driven organizations. It begins by exploring how CTO responsibilities are shifting in response to AI, highlighting the growing complexity of technology decision-making, the need for cross-functional collaboration, and the organizational changes required to support AI initiatives. The book then examines the development and implementation of technology roadmaps as essential tools for strategic alignment, resource planning, and risk management, illustrated through case studies on autonomous driving and smart 3D cameras. Finally, it addresses the full lifecycle of AI product development, including data-driven optimization, collaborative software-hardware integration, and the structuring of high-performing R&D teams. Topics such as talent recruitment, agile methodologies, commercialization strategies, and emerging AI trends are incorporated throughout.

Jianfeng Ren is a seasoned technology leader at Google, where he spearheads cross-continental teams in delivering next-generation camera products powered by AI technologies. With over a decade of experience at Qualcomm and Huawei, he has led numerous projects in computer vision and machine learning, pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging innovation. Dr. Ren is passionate about using his technical and strategic experience to bridge the gap between engineering and executive vision.

Soledad D’Agostino is an experienced leader in global Product and Brand Marketing, with 17 years of experience working with companies like Google, YouTube, and Microsoft, where she has played key roles in international strategy, global commercialization, and monetization revenue.Most recently, as the Global Product Marketing Lead for Google’s Pixel Fold, Soledad spearheaded Pixel’s first foldable smartphone and its most engaging marketing campaign to date. Her commitment to applying technology for social and environmental good has established her as a thought leader at the intersection of technology, management, and sustainability.

Junwei Han is a Professor in the School of Automation, Northwestern Polytechnical University (Xi'an, China). His research interests include artificial intelligence and pattern recognition. Dr. Han has published more than 150 papers in scholarly journals and more than 50 papers in top conferences. He is an Associate Editor for several international journals including IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (TPAMI) and IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging (TMI).