- A new Gartner poll showed over half of organizations now have an AI board or a leadership position dedicated to the technology
- However, the firm doesn't expect those positions to be permanent
- Most organizations that need an AI board are those that are struggling with AI implementation the most
AI boards are popping up at organizations across the globe to help oversee the deployment and management of artificial intelligence (AI). But those seats might be more like folding chairs — temporary.
A recent Gartner poll of more than 1,800 executive leaders showed that over half (55%) of organizations now have an AI board, and 54% of organizations have a head of AI or an AI leader.
The companies that need AI boards are the ones that struggle with new technology implementation the most, Garter Distinguished Analyst Frances Karamouzis told Fierce Network.
Whether they’re large hub-and-spoke organizations, or those that have never had such a concentration of spending or requests, these companies want to put in an AI board or an AI leader as “an interim sort of stopgap.”
“It’s a measure to make sure that they're not treading in place,” Karamouzis added.
Some organizations are even creating a "Chief AI Officer" role to address these concerns. However, of the 54% of executive leaders who indicated their organization had a head of AI, or an AI leader, 88% said that their AI leader did not have the title of CAIO.
That’s likely because most boards do not want to expand the C-suite, the Gartner report said, despite wanting a leader who is responsible for AI orchestration. And according to Karamouzis, it’s not totally necessary for them to have a title at the C-suite level. For many organizations the firm polled, accountability for AI is spread out.
States are also getting in on the action, orchestrating their own AI task forces. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, for example, recently announced the formation of an 18-member AI task force dedicated to “exploring AI's implications and developing legislative measures to mitigate potential biases and workforce disruptions.”
And legislatures in states including Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Vermont and Virginia have created task forces or commissions to study AI. Several governors have also created AI task forces by executive order.
Appointing these boards and leaders isn’t “necessarily a bad idea,” Karamouzis said.
“We just don't think that it's going to be something that's long term," she continued. "In other words, five years from now, we don't really think there's going to be AI boards as a mainstay.”
Making a good AI board
Gartner argued that while they are here, AI boards should have clearly defined rules that map back to business remits.
AI board members should represent multiple disciplines and business units, ensuring speed and agility without making the board unwieldy, Karamouzis said in the poll report. She also highlighted the importance of having senior, experienced board members with strong strategic and execution skills.
Despite the trend, many companies (47%) polled by Gartner are choosing not to create separate AI boards. That could mean they already have effective processes for managing technology requests, Karamouzis noted. Many of these organizations view AI as "just another technology," albeit one with unique power and risks, and prefer to integrate it into their existing governance structures rather than establishing separate processes.
“Those companies who are in that 47% are likely on the side of doing more successful AI initiatives,” Karamouzis concluded.