The 16th CTO Colloquium: Confronting Quality Debt & The AI Security Gap
For modern engineering organizations, the "AI Revolution" isn't just about velocity — it's about the collapse of traditional oversight. As code generation approaches the infinite, we are witnessing the birth of a new, predatory risk: The Integrity Gap.
When AI-generated code enters your environment at scale, it doesn't just bring speed: it brings Quality Debt and Systemic Security Risks. We're building software faster than our teams can verify it — creating a "Boogeyman in the machine" that threatens the very foundation of product trust and long-term maintainability.
The 16th CTO Colloquium in Chicago is a working forum designed to shine a light on these invisible risks. We're moving beyond high-level AI hype to provide practical, tactical guidance for leaders navigating the precipice of high-velocity development.
The Core Themes
Three threads that will shape every conversation, talk, and forum session.
The Quality Debt Crisis
Identifying and addressing the invisible decay in AI-forward organizations before it becomes a structural liability.
The AI Security Surface
Investigating how rapid code generation opens new, subtle vulnerabilities that traditional security frameworks weren't built to catch.
The Verification Bottleneck
Strategies for maintaining "Founder-level" system knowledge and ownership in an era of automated output.
The Agenda
Day 1
Thursday, July 23
Opening remarks & light refreshments
Speaker 1
Speaker 2
Break
Speaker 3
Speaker 4
Debrief
Optional networking dinner (Dutch treat)
Post-event drinks and informal networking · venue TBA
Day 2
Friday, July 24
CTO Forum Session
A facilitated, peer-driven forum designed to surface real challenges, shared patterns, and actionable insights from the group.
Lunch
The Lineup
Speakers
To Be Announced
The lineup for the 16th CTO Colloquium will be announced soon.
Call for Talks
Share what you've learned on our stage
The 16th CTO Colloquium is seeking speakers to tackle the Quality Debt and AI Security Gap created by infinite code generation. If you have lived the friction of verifying AI output — or built the frameworks to secure it — we want your hard-earned insights on our stage.
Previous Colloquiums
A glimpse of the conversations, candor, and connection that define the CTO Colloquium experience.
Chicago · Venue & Stay
Venue
Downtown Chicago — TBA
We're finalizing a downtown Chicago venue with easy access to the Loop and major transit. Address shared with registered attendees.
Hotel Recommendations
Coming soon
We'll publish two vetted downtown Chicago hotels close to the venue — including where the 7CTOs team will be staying — once the venue is locked.
Who This Is For
This colloquium is best suited for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and senior technical leaders who value deep conversation, trusted peers, and practical leadership growth over surface-level content.
Presented by
CTOs face daily high-stakes hurdles. 7CTOs is an exclusive tech leader membership providing expert support, coaching and community to help CTOs lead, grow, and thrive.
Proudly sponsored by
JDAQA solves the QA problem for growing software teams. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, we combine AI-enabled test automation with decades of complex real-world software quality assurance experience. JDAQA helps deliver robust, reliable software that ships with confidence.