Board directors are facing increasing pressure from stakeholders to demonstrate their impact across a broadening range of business areas amid a surging volume of corporate data. A recent study by Board Intelligence and the Chartered Governance Institute highlights the extent of this challenge, revealing that the average briefing document provided to directors before meetings has grown to 220 pages, a 27 percent increase since 2019. Despite this growth in information, 61 percent of directors characterize these materials as weak or poor in quality.

Directors report that the briefing packs are often backward-looking and overly focused on internal operational data, offering limited insight into future risks and opportunities. This overload and lack of strategic clarity are affecting decision-making, with 84 percent of directors surveyed by Board Intelligence stating that poor-quality information had led their boards to delay, rush, or make suboptimal decisions in the past six months. Information quality is now considered the most significant obstacle to improving board decision-making in the UK.

In response to these challenges, some boards are exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance their processes. However, many directors caution that AI should do more than merely accelerate the review of extensive data packs. They seek technology that can facilitate richer discussions and support more informed decision-making.

Board Intelligence aims to meet this demand with IQ Experts, an AI-driven platform integrated into its board software. Unlike conventional summarizing tools, IQ Experts allows directors to engage in interactive queries across current board materials, historical records, and verified external sources, all with clear citations. The platform is designed not to replace human judgment but to augment directors’ capabilities by providing deeper insights and broader context.

Pippa Begg, Chief Executive and co-founder of Board Intelligence, emphasizes that their AI focuses on improving governance quality rather than speed alone, offering directors enhanced access to relevant information and enabling them to ask detailed questions that conventional reports cannot anticipate.

The role of directors, tasked with independent oversight and accountability for shareholder interests, has become increasingly complex. They face difficult decisions involving corporate strategy, cybersecurity, geopolitical risks, and sustainability amid a rapidly changing business landscape. In this environment, tools like IQ Experts aim to reduce time spent on data review, allowing directors to concentrate on substantive issues and come prepared with informed queries.

Developed from over two decades of governance consultancy and software experience, IQ Experts encompasses expertise across more than 130 governance topics within a secure portal directors already use for meeting documentation and communication. The platform holds ISO 27001 certification, does not train on client data, and retains no data generated during use, addressing common concerns around privacy and intellectual property.

While directors have traditionally been cautious about integrating AI into their roles due to concerns over control and security, solutions like IQ Experts seek to serve as supportive tools rather than replacements for human decision-making. They aim to empower directors to challenge executives effectively and collaborate on value creation.

Current statistics underscore the need for such innovation: 41 percent of boards reportedly spend half or more of their meeting time reviewing past performance rather than focusing on future planning, and only 18 percent are seen as strong drivers of innovation. AI tools tailored to the unique demands of board governance could mark a pivotal shift in enabling directors to meet evolving stakeholder expectations and enhance long-term corporate performance.