Independent Expertise.
Accountability Focused.
Beyond Hype.
About Sol Imagination
According to a July 2025 report published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Project NANDA, AI is not moving the needle for 95% of organizations. Translation: FOMO-based adoption is high, underwhelming outcomes are rampant.
The AI landscape is evolving rapidly. As early pilots lose their novelty, organizational leaders are now demanding scale, confidence, and measurable value. In response, Taka Ariga founded Sol Imagination LLC to serve as an independent advisor to executives seeking strategic, experience-driven guidance on AI and digital transformation.
Taka brings a 26-year track record of leading enterprise modernization, AI strategy, and data-centric transformation across complex organizations. As a former Chief AI Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Chief Data Scientist, he has been at the forefront of designing digital operating models that balance innovation with accountability, risk management, and governance.
He was the lead author of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s AI Accountability Framework and currently serves as a Senior Fellow with the Data Foundation.
AI Readiness Assessment and Strategy Development
- Assess organizational readiness for AI adoption
- Develop an AI strategy that delivers measurable value while balancing risks and costs
- Design an AI policy that can evolve alongside technological advancements
Agile Governance Design & Risk Management
- Establish an agile governance framework that acts to accelerate innovation
- Conduct risk assessment across the AI lifecycle
- Define organizational tolerance and mitigation approach across risk dimensions
Executives and Workforce AI Fluency
- Provide executive training to better manage AI adoption
- Create a cohesive digital literacy program that connects AI to job functions
- Navigate impacts of AI on human capital
About Taka
Taka is a senior technology executive and the founder of Sol Imagination LLC with a 25-year record of leading enterprise modernization, AI strategy, and data-centric transformation for innovation-focused organizations. As a former Chief AI Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Chief Data Scientist, he has been at the forefront of architecting digital operating models that align technology investments to enduring business and mission value, while balancing key tenets of accountability and risk management. Taka is a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, boards, and government executives, bringing deep expertise in AI governance, cloud-native platforms, data architecture, and cross-functional change management. He is known for building high-performance organizations, driving complex transformation portfolios, and shaping national and international standards for responsible AI. Fluent in both Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, Taka brings a global perspective to his work. Outside of his professional endeavors, he is a dedicated classical chamber musician and a competitive tennis player.
Awards
- 2025 AI Honor Award, MeriTalk
- 2024 Relmond P. Van Daniker Award for Government Transparency, AGA
- 2023 Global Government Innovator, Public Sector Network
Works and Perspectives