Short answer: Directors have adopted AI faster than their boards have written rules for it. In a Corporate Board Member and Diligent Institute survey of 104 U.S. public company directors, 82% had used generative AI for board work in the previous 6 months, up from 66% in September 2025, yet 54% said their company has no guidance on directors' AI use and only 6% reported a formal board-specific policy (Corporate Board Member). An AI-native board closes that gap with a short, clear policy on which tools directors may use and what information may go into them.

Key takeaways

• 82% of directors used generative AI for board work in the past 6 months.
• 54% say their company has no guidance on directors' AI use; 6% have a board-specific policy.
• 49% have heard of directors using consumer AI tools for board work.
• 71% of directors say AI is the leading skill their boards need to strengthen (PwC, 2026).

[Table 1]

Why does director AI use need a policy?

Board materials hold some of a company's most sensitive information: strategy, deals, earnings and litigation. When a director pastes a board book into a consumer chatbot, that information leaves the company's controlled environment. The same survey found that 96% of directors did not know of any case where board materials had gone into an unapproved tool, but with half having heard of consumer tool use, many boards cannot be sure.

There is a governance reason too. A board that uses AI well in its own work builds the fluency it needs to oversee management's AI. Directors on risk committees were more likely to use AI to learn technical topics (68% versus 44%) and to draft questions for management (37% versus 20%), the survey found.

What should a board AI-use policy cover?

[Table 2]

How to put a policy in place in 30 days

1. Week 1: survey directors. Ask which tools they use and for which tasks.
2. Week 2: choose approved tools. Prefer AI features inside the board portal or company-licensed tools with data protection terms.
3. Week 3: draft the policy. Keep it to 1 or 2 pages, using the 7 elements above.
4. Week 4: adopt and train. Approve the policy in the governance committee and run a short hands-on session.

How does this connect to board composition?

Boards are adding fewer new directors. The 2026 Spencer Stuart Board Index counted 364 new S&P 500 director appointments, with first-time directors falling to 24% from 35% in 2021. PwC found that only 27% of directors rate specialized expertise such as AI as very important when evaluating candidates. With little turnover, most boards will build AI capability through the directors they already have, which makes policy, practice and training the main levers. See AI fluency for board directors and how to become an AI-native board member.

Frequently asked questions

How many directors use AI for board work?

82% of U.S. public company directors used generative AI for board work in the 6 months before a 2026 Corporate Board Member and Diligent Institute survey, up from 66% in September 2025.

Do boards have AI-use policies?

Rarely. In the same survey, 54% said their company has no guidance on directors' AI use and only 6% reported a formal board-specific policy.

Can directors put board materials into ChatGPT?

Only if the board's policy allows it and the tool is approved with suitable data protection. Most policies prohibit putting board books, minutes or deal information into consumer AI tools.

What should a board AI policy include?

Approved tools, permitted uses, prohibited inputs, how AI outputs relate to board records, the principle that directors remain responsible for judgment, training and an annual review.

Next step: Request a board AI diagnostic to see where your board stands today.