This downloadable guide gives chairs, CEOs, non-executive directors, and senior leaders a structured set of questions to ask about AI in their organisation. It is the same set of questions we use in our board development sessions, distilled into a one-stop document you can take into your next board meeting, executive away day, or one-to-one with your CIO.
Download it free below. We work with leaders in the UK, across Europe, and globally, and across organisations of every type and size — listed companies, privately held businesses, charities, membership organisations, regulators, professional bodies, and the public sector — so the questions are written to be useful wherever you sit.
Download: Questions Every Board Should Be Asking About AI
The questions are designed to be challenging — that’s the point. If you would like a sounding board on any of them, get in touch.
Why these questions matter
According to McKinsey’s 2025 State of AI report, 88% of organisations now use AI in at least one business function. Adoption is broad. Effective oversight is not.
Boards and executive teams are increasingly expected to govern AI well, even when most members are not technical specialists. Asking the right questions is one of the most powerful — and least expensive — things a board can do. It surfaces risk early, sharpens strategy, and signals to the rest of the organisation that AI will be taken seriously rather than left to chance.
What the guide covers
The guide is organised around the five areas every board and senior leadership team needs to feel confident in. Under each, here is one of the questions you will find inside:
- Understanding AI and its implications. Covers basic knowledge, competition and change. Sample question: “Do Board members understand how AI works? If not, how will we invest to improve our skills?”
- Data strategy and governance. Covers data overview and data governance. Sample question: “What data do we have access to, both internally and externally?”
- Opportunities to use AI and risk management implications. Pairs where AI can add value with how the risks will be owned and controlled. Sample question: “How are our competitors using AI?”
- AI governance and ethics. Covers oversight, principles, and the changing legal and regulatory scene. Sample question: “Have we clearly defined and communicated our organisation’s AI principles?”
- Workforce and culture. Covers people impact and skills. Sample question: “What implications does increasing use of AI have for our staff?”
Who it is for
- Chairs and committee chairs preparing for an AI-on-the-agenda meeting.
- CEOs, executive directors, and senior leaders shaping their organisation’s AI position.
- Non-executive directors who want to challenge management constructively.
- Company secretaries and chiefs of staff designing the next strategy day.
- Trustees and committee members of charities, membership organisations, and public bodies.
How to use it
There is no right way. Common starting points include:
- Pick three to five questions and put them on the next board agenda.
- Run a 60-minute board briefing using the guide as a structured discussion document.
- Ask each member of the executive team to answer the section relevant to them, and bring the answers to a strategy day.
- Use it as the discovery tool that shapes a tailored AI development programme for your board.
Need help working through the answers?
Some of these questions are easier asked than answered. We help boards and executive teams work through them and turn the conversation into action. Common follow-ups include:
- AI board and leadership development — sessions from a 60-minute briefing to multi-touchpoint programmes.
- One-to-one executive coaching on AI for chairs, CEOs, and senior leaders.
- AI consultancy for boards and executive teams ready to move from questions to action.
- AI literacy training for staff at every level of your organisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the guide free?
Yes. Download it directly above with no form to fill in.
Can we share it inside our organisation?
Yes. Share it with your board, your executive team, your trustees, or anyone who would find it useful. We just ask that you keep our credit on the document.
Is it relevant outside the UK?
Yes. The questions are written to be useful for organisations of every type and size, in the UK, across Europe, and globally.
We answered the questions and now have more questions. What next?
Get in touch. We can run a board session, design a tailored programme, or simply act as a sounding board while you work through the harder questions in your organisation.
How do we get started?
Call +44 (0)800 861 1812 or use our contact form.
Ready to take the questions further?
If you would like to work through the questions with us, call +44 (0)800 861 1812 or get in touch.