CTOs must have input on product decisions
Without involving Chief Technology Officers in product decisions, a company is left with a "senior engineer with a fancy title," argued engineer Necati Demir. The comment highlights a growing belief that for the CTO role to be effective, it must include strategic input on product priorities and features, not just technical execution.
- A modern CTO's responsibilities have expanded from technical oversight to driving business strategy, with a focus on how technology investments align with and propel revenue growth and business outcomes. The role now often includes shaping product strategy, managing cybersecurity, and overseeing data strategy. - In the UK's adtech landscape, programmatic ad spending is projected to grow by 12.6% for display and 12.7% for mobile in 2024, with Connected TV (CTV) advertising expected to surge by 20.7%. This growth occurs as the industry grapples with the impact of Google's Privacy Sandbox, which has reportedly led to a 30% decrease in ad revenue for Chrome users without cookies. - Agentic AI is increasingly being adopted in enterprise workflows to automate complex, multi-step processes, which is projected to free up 60-70% of employees' time by handling tasks autonomously. Gartner predicts that by 2026, over 80% of enterprises will utilize AI APIs and agent-based systems for managing business processes. - The software development tools market is expected to grow from $6.31 billion in 2024 to $9.27 billion by 2029, driven by the adoption of AI-driven development tools, low-code/no-code platforms, and the increasing number of software developers globally, which is now nearing 30 million. - In the UK tech startup scene, despite a dip in overall funding to €16.5 billion in 2024, significant rounds were raised by companies like autonomous vehicle startup Wayve ($1 billion), and fintechs Monzo ($430 million) and Abound (£800 million). London also saw notable Series B funding for fintech company FINBOURNE Technology, which raised over £100 million. - Supply path optimization (SPO) in programmatic advertising is evolving beyond simply reducing intermediaries. With the deprecation of third-party cookies, the focus is shifting to building strategic partnerships with publishers that can provide valuable first-party data and enhanced contextual intelligence. - For the 2025 Formula 1 season, rule changes include the removal of the bonus point for the fastest lap, an increase in the minimum weight of the cars, and expanded opportunities for rookie drivers in practice sessions. Additionally, there are tighter restrictions on flexible wings and DRS designs.
