Scope

Head of AI Research protects a longer bet. They hire researchers, choose the problems worth a year, and decide what is ready to hand to applied and product teams. If every researcher is staffed on this quarter's launch, the role has already failed.

Required experience

Has led researchers and has also killed a line of work. Has a record of something leaving the lab and being used. Can tell a Chief AI Officer what will not be ready.

Interview focus

Ask what they stopped, how a result moved into a product team, and how they hired people who could publish and also ship.

Sample job description

Report to the Chief AI Officer. Set the research agenda. Hire the group. Hand finished work to applied AI and product, and keep unfinished work from being promised to customers.