AI in the Boardroom: Moving Past the Trough of Disillusionment
As AI continues to evolve, it’s easy to view it through the lens of the Gartner Hype Cycle and, for many, see it resting squarely in the “trough of disillusionment.” For board members, especially those who’ve seen countless trends come and go, it’s natural to be skeptical about AI’s immediate impact. But there’s a unique opportunity here: AI, especially tools like ChatGPT, isn’t just about big transformations. Instead, it’s a practical tool that can support decision-making, streamline preparation, and add value in simple ways that may surprise you.
Why Board Members Should Reconsider AI Skepticism
In the past, AI has been surrounded by hype, promising large-scale shifts that often didn’t materialize as expected. This led many to believe that AI’s promise was overblown. However, today’s AI tools are more grounded, accessible, and capable of delivering real, measurable benefits without massive investments or major overhauls. ChatGPT and similar tools can act as reliable assistants, helping to streamline routine tasks and giving board members a unique advantage in preparing for discussions, analyzing data, or drafting documents.
The key is to approach AI with the same practical mindset you bring to other business tools: start small, understand its capabilities, and let it complement your established workflow.
A Simple First Step: Using AI for Meeting Preparation
One of the easiest ways to start using AI is by leveraging ChatGPT to help prepare for important conversations. For many experienced professionals, preparing for a meeting is second nature. However, when working with AI, remember that the AI doesn’t know your thought process or context automatically. Here’s how you can get ChatGPT to help you effectively:
Example Prompt:
Imagine you’re preparing for a conversation with a potential business partner. Try entering a prompt like:
“Help me outline a conversation with [Partner Name]. I want to understand their key priorities, discuss potential collaboration areas, and address any risks they might have concerns about. Please provide some suggested questions I can ask to get a clearer picture of their goals and reservations.”
With this input, ChatGPT will generate a tailored outline with specific questions and talking points. This outline can help you structure your thoughts, focus the conversation, and ensure you’re well-prepared—without spending hours drafting an outline manually.
Why This Works
By spending just a moment to specify what you need, you enable ChatGPT to act as an extension of your thought process. It becomes a practical assistant, helping you stay organized and ensuring that you cover all critical points, adding clarity and confidence to each conversation.
Beyond the Disillusionment: AI as a Business Asset
Starting small with tools like ChatGPT allows you to see the tangible value AI can bring without diving into major transformations. As you experience the efficiency gains and practical support it offers, you may find that AI doesn’t need to be a large-scale investment to be impactful. It’s not about replacing human expertise—it’s about augmenting it, allowing you and your team to focus on strategic priorities rather than routine tasks.
By redefining AI as a helpful tool rather than a major disruption, board members can move past disillusionment and explore the real, everyday value AI can add to business operations.