Beyond the AI Conversation
Artificial intelligence continues to be a prominent topic in boardrooms, but for many private company boards, the conversation is evolving. The question is no longer whether AI matters. Instead, boards are increasingly considering what effective oversight looks like as AI tools become more integrated into business operations.
Findings from the recently released Private Company Governance 2026 Report, based on responses from private company directors and governance professionals, suggest that while AI remains a significant boardroom priority, governance practices are still catching up to adoption.
The report found that directors ranked the opportunities and risks of AI as the third most prominent business challenge facing their organizations, trailing only economic conditions and workforce capability and engagement. At the same time, only 41% of respondents reported having board policies or oversight processes in place for AI and technology beyond cybersecurity.
AI is also beginning to influence how boards operate. The report found that 25% of fiduciary boards and 44% of advisory boards are already using AI tools for activities such as note-taking and minutes preparation. As directors become more familiar with AI in their own boardrooms, questions around oversight, accountability, and governance are becoming increasingly relevant.
These findings reflect a broader shift taking place across the governance landscape. While early discussions often focused on understanding the technology itself, boards are now exploring how AI may affect strategy, risk management, workforce planning, decision-making, and long-term value creation.
For private company boards, the challenge is often less about becoming experts in AI and more about ensuring they have the information, policies, and oversight processes necessary to understand how the technology is being used across the organization.
As AI adoption continues to expand, the Private Company Governance 2026 Report suggests that many boards are moving beyond introductory discussions and beginning to consider what ongoing oversight should look like. How that evolution unfolds may become one of the more important governance conversations in the years ahead.
The AI findings represent just one aspect of the governance trends highlighted in the report. Explore additional insights on board effectiveness, succession planning, risk oversight, and emerging governance priorities.
While there is no single blueprint for AI governance, the survey findings suggest that many boards are still working through those questions.