Board briefing
Ten questions a board should ask about organizational AI
A board does not need to select tools or manage implementation. It does need enough evidence to oversee purpose, accountability, risk, and performance.
Ask for institutional answers
Strong answers name actual owners, workflows, information, controls, measures, and decisions. General statements about innovation, efficiency, or responsible use are not sufficient evidence.
- 01
What institutional objective does this use of AI support?
- 02
Who is accountable for the outcome—not only for the technology?
- 03
What information will be used, where will it go, and how will it be protected?
- 04
Which decisions remain human, and what meaningful review will occur?
- 05
What could go wrong for members, clients, employees, communities, or the institution?
- 06
How have affected staff and subject-matter experts been involved?
- 07
What do we know about the supplier, its terms, its controls, and our ability to exit?
- 08
How will accuracy, exceptions, complaints, incidents, and corrections be handled?
- 09
What baseline and measures will demonstrate adoption, value, and responsible performance?
- 10
What evidence would cause management to pause, redesign, or stop the use?
What the board should receive
For a material AI initiative, management’s briefing should identify the accountable executive, intended result, affected workflow, information involved, human decision points, principal risks, supplier arrangement, implementation status, performance measures, exceptions, and escalation process.