Major outgoing CEOs are citing AI as a factor in their decisions to step down

Two major CEOs told CNBC in recent months that the rise of artificial intelligence contributed to their decisions to hand over the reins and step down from their positions.

It's one of the latest insights into how America's corporate leaders are sizing up the AI transition.

Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday that his decision to step down from his role was influenced by larger "waves of the organizational momentum."

"My job is also to think who's the best team to put on the field to get the next wave done," Quincey said. "And I concluded that, actually, it was time to put someone else on the field for the next wave of growth."

Quincey, who has served as CEO of the beverage giant since 2017, will be succeeded by current COO Henrique Braun, effective at the end of this month.

"In a pre-AI, a pre-gen-AI mode, we made a lot of progress. But now there's a huge new shift coming along," Quincey said.

While he said he's leaning into the technological advances, he believes the beverage company needs "someone with the energy to pursue a completely new transformation of the enterprise."

That person, Quincey said, is Braun, who he believes will uniquely equip the company to embrace its next chapter.

Quincey's comments echo sentiments from former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon in December ahead of his departure from that role.