The use of AI is revolutionizing the way businesses operate. By leveraging AI technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing, businesses can streamline their processes, make more informed decisions, and automate customer services. AI enables companies to increase efficiency and productivity; however, the rapid development of AI technology has already created debate over industry regulation, tech monopolies, copyright law, lawyer-client privilege, and the ethics of content generation. Non-executive directors across boards of all levels need to develop the critical skills to manage their response to these developments. AI is reshaping the business landscape; boards must keep pace with this change.

Despite the need for boards to keep up with AI developments, there is a noticeable lack of AI expertise and oversight even in the world’s biggest companies. According to research by Matt Kelly of Radical Compliance, out of 429 proxy statements filed by S&P 500 companies in 2024, only 178 mention AI. Of those 178, very few discussed oversight of AI in depth. Most boards lacked a comprehensive approach to the risks and opportunities of AI, often relegating such a task to the company’s audit committee. The divide between the rapidly changing technological landscape and the slow response of modern boards provides an opportunity for non-executive directors to fill the gap, providing boards with much-needed knowledge on how to respond to AI developments.

At L-EV8, we are uniquely placed to train prospective non-executive directors on how to handle the developments and challenges of AI. Our very own Jonathan Armstrong serves both on the New York State Bar Association’s AI Task Force and on the Law Society AI Group. He was part of the former’s groundbreaking report looking at the impact of AI on society and the law, which included a number of guidelines for the legal profession. He has also spoken widely on current and future AI regulation in the UK, EU and United States, and his expertise and advice is widely sought across media and business organisations.

Delegates on L-EV8 programmes benefit enormously from the wealth of knowledge on AI that he, and the rest of our team, provide.