Japan CTO Association Overhauls Activity Policy and Structure to Create a Forum for Tackling Unforeseen Questions in the AI Era with Technology Leaders

The Japan CTO Association (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Masayuki Imamura, hereinafter: Japan CTO Association) will renew its activity policy and structure starting today, July 1, 2026.

AI is rapidly developing, and its adoption by organizations is progressing beyond the chasm. As a result, in addition to product development, there are increasing situations in management and organizational building where conventional models and solutions are no longer applicable. These transformations cannot be completed solely within the technology department; they require changes in management and organizational approaches, and the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is expanding beyond understanding the latest technologies and managing technology organizations to leading management and organizational transformation. It is required that CxOs, including CTOs, transcend their traditional roles and interact deeply with each other.

We are redefining the role of our association as a platform for jointly confronting this growing number of unforeseen challenges.

Background | The Role of Technology Leaders is Being Redefined

We are seeing CTOs increasingly taking on roles such as CAIO (Chief AI Officer) and CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer). On the other hand, individuals with diverse backgrounds in HR, design, business development, etc., are increasingly serving as CAIOs or CAXOs (Chief AI Transformation Officers). As technology decisions become more directly linked to management, and the roles of CxOs become more closely intertwined, leaders are facing unprecedented questions.

From the perspective of technology leaders, and by extension, the careers of engineers, a technical background is an irreplaceable asset, and its importance and career potential are receiving more attention than ever before.

"How to connect organizational building with expanding roles" and "How to perceive the role of technology leaders" are common challenges that transcend organizations. We believe this is a pivotal moment for our association to discuss not only technology but also the nature of organizations, management, and technology leaders.

In the current situation, we cannot provide a single answer. Therefore, the value of our association is being redefined not as providing answers, but as a forum where we can bring together questions from different positions and industries and "explore together." Our association, along with our directors and executives, are themselves participants in the midst of the same transformation. We will face this challenge as fellow explorers and support the progress of technology leaders.

New Activity Policy and Structure

Create a platform to tackle unforeseen challenges arising from AI transformation and learn together.

Aim to produce CTOs who can lead company-wide management, transcending the boundaries of technology and technology organizations.

Confront and accompany the continuous AI transformation, accumulating know-how for organizational AI utilization and promotion.

Based on the above policies, we will reorganize our working groups (WGs) and establish the following new WGs.

Platform WG

There are few forums to confront unforeseen challenges in AI transformation. To enable members to learn from each other, we will inherit the initiatives of the Community WG and build a platform by further valuing our association's VALUE of "Give First."

Beyond Tech WG

To increase the number of CTOs who can lead management beyond the boundaries of technology, we will support the challenges of each technology leader and provide opportunities for learning and practice.

AX Criteria WG

While AI adoption in organizations is rapidly progressing, common criteria for objectively measuring its progress have not yet been established. We will inherit the "DX Criteria" cultivated by our association, bring together the practical knowledge of each company, and accumulate and share know-how for AI utilization and promotion. We will proceed with the examination and formulation of "AX Criteria," a new indicator for measuring organizational AI maturity.

Message from Representative Director

With the advent of AI, there are increasing situations where "correct answers" in organizations and management are no longer applicable, and changes are demanded at an unprecedented speed. The role required of CTOs is also expanding beyond the management of technology organizations to leading self-transformation through AI and company-wide management.

Therefore, the Japan CTO Association aims to be a forum where we can bring together questions across different positions and "explore together," rather than a place that provides answers. With the spirit of "Give First," we will support the progress of technology leaders.

Masayuki Imamura, Representative Director, Japan CTO Association

About the Japan CTO Association

"Making self-transformation through technology a standard in Japanese society."

The Japan CTO Association was established in September 2019 with the goal of making Japan a nation with the world's highest level of technological capabilities. In a constantly changing era, we will contribute to Japan's transformation by returning the knowledge and experience of CTOs who achieve self-transformation and embody continuous evolution, and those who move forward with them, to society. We will then make value creation through self-transformation and its continuous provision, utilizing digital-centric technology, a standard in Japanese society.

Organization Name: Japan CTO Association

Official Website: https://cto-a.org/

Representative Director: Masayuki Imamura

Establishment: September 2, 2019

Headquarters: Miyamasuzaka Building 609, 2-19-15 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

▼ For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact:

Japan CTO Association

pr@cto-a.org (Contact: Ninomiya)