Every wave of new-technology hype — cloud, mobile, data, and now AI — temporarily pulls technology leaders into executive-table conversations they weren't previously part of. Leah Hitman reads the current AI-driven elevation of technology leaders not as a sign the org has matured, but as evidence more transformation is still needed: if product and technology leadership already held a durable seat at the strategy table, a hype cycle wouldn't be the thing that puts them there. Related: Product Leader Role Definition, Business Strategy.