95% of board directors acknowledge upcoming AI impact

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), a significant knowledge gap has emerged among board directors regarding AI governance. As of March 2025, 95% of board directors have expressed belief that AI will profoundly impact their businesses by 2025, yet only 5% have established any AI governance frameworks. This lack of proactive measures signifies a concerning disconnect in boardroom preparedness. The rapid growth of AI technology, spurred by the introduction of generative AI (GenAI), underscores the urgency for board members to enhance their understanding and governance capabilities in this critical area. The recent rise of GenAI, which utilizes advanced algorithms to process vast datasets, detect patterns, and create new content, has been particularly transformative across industries. Companies are investing heavily in GenAI, with venture capital accounting for over 70% of the funding directed towards this field. In 2024, expenditures on GenAI reached $13.8 billion, reflecting five times the investment made in 2023. This surge in investment is predicated on expectations of significant productivity gains from companies embracing GenAI and its potential impact on the bottom line. Despite these advancements, many board members remain largely disengaged from AI discussions, often operating outside public scrutiny. The launch of Alpha in 2024 aims to address this gap by providing board directors with the tools to interact both with AI and with each other. Alpha organizes exclusive forums and workshops, fostering peer-to-peer collaboration that allows board members to grasp the implications of AI governance and strategies for their organizations. According to Steven Wolfe Pereira, Alpha's Founder and CEO, this initiative is pivotal in creating learning spaces that enhance directors' capabilities to lead effectively in the AI-enabled future. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the business landscape, the necessity for informed governance has become paramount. The future could see AI agents becoming integral to business processes, akin to essential tools like email and mobile phones. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for directors, who must bridge the knowledge gap to govern strategically and mitigate risks associated with AI technologies moving forward.