Chief technology officers from major companies gathered at TIME’s Executives of the Year Impact Dinner to discuss how technology is reshaping their businesses. Franziska Bell, CTO of The Home Depot, Fiona Tan, CTO of Wayfair, and Sam Dozor, CTO of Rokt, shared insights on integrating new technologies into their operations.
Bell highlighted the importance of focusing on the consumer experience when adopting new technologies. She introduced Magic Apron, an AI-powered tool that helps customers find items, answer product questions, and interpret images. Deployed in 2,000 U.S. stores, Magic Apron is part of Bell’s effort to reduce friction in customer interactions. She emphasized the value of human-AI collaboration, stating, “I’m a huge believer in human-AI teams. That’s really where the magic happens.”
Tan discussed how Wayfair uses technology to assist customers in navigating its vast product selection. She noted that many consumers struggle to articulate what they want, so the company aims to provide a personalized experience. Tan also stressed the need for adaptability in new hires and the benefits of pairing younger employees with more experienced ones.
Dozor emphasized the urgency for companies to invest in technology, declaring, “The time is here. The time is now, and all of us need to live it.” He described how Rokt encourages employees to expand their roles using AI, such as engineers developing product specs and designers writing code. Dozor’s forward-looking approach reflects Rokt’s strategy to anticipate future needs, saying, “We’ve chosen to live six months from now.”