## CNN poaches New York Times' chief data scientist Chris Wiggins to lead new AI team
CNN has made a significant strategic hire, directly recruiting Chris Wiggins, the long-serving chief data scientist of the New York Times, to spearhead its own artificial intelligence efforts. The move, announced in an internal memo, places Wiggins in a newly created leadership role as head of machine learning and AI science. This signals a major escalation in CNN's internal investment in data-driven technology and AI capabilities, directly competing with a rival's top talent.

Wiggins brings over a decade of experience from one of the world's most prominent news organizations, where he built and led the data science team. His departure from the Times represents a notable loss for that institution and a clear win for CNN's technological ambitions. The creation of the new role underscores a deliberate push by CNN to centralize and advance its AI and machine learning strategy, moving beyond piecemeal projects to a more cohesive, science-led approach.

The hire intensifies the behind-the-scenes arms race for technical talent within major media companies. As the industry grapples with the disruptive potential of generative AI for both content creation and business operations, securing proven leadership from a direct competitor is a high-stakes maneuver. It places immediate pressure on the New York Times to backfill a critical role while giving CNN a seasoned executive to navigate the complex ethical and operational challenges of deploying AI in a newsroom.
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- **Source**: Variety
- **Sector**: The Lab
- **Tags**: artificial intelligence, media, talent poaching, data science, New York Times
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-13 17:53:00
- **ID**: 62396
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/62396