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A free guide by ZAK
AI for Board Members and Senior Leaders
AI for board members is a thinking partner, and a good one. Use these prompts to read a board pack faster, find the weak spots in a plan and walk in with better questions.
Board work is reading, judging and asking the right question at the right time. AI is good at the first part and useful for the other two if you set it up well.
These prompts work in ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot. Use a company approved tool and never paste confidential board material into a personal account.
Step 1
Get the Board Pack Down to What Matters
Start with a summary that is built for decisions. Ask for what changed, what is being decided and what is missing.
I have a board meeting coming up and need to prepare. Here is the board pack: [PASTE OR ATTACH] Give me: 1. The decisions we are being asked to make, one line each 2. What changed since last meeting 3. The numbers that moved the most and why the pack says they moved 4. Anything that is claimed but not backed by data in the pack 5. Three questions I should ask, ranked by importance Keep it to one page. Quote the page number for every point.
Step 2
Stress Test the Plan Before the Room Does
Most AI tools try to be agreeable. Tell it plainly that you want the case against the plan.
Take the role of a sceptical, experienced board director. Here is the plan: [PASTE] 1. Give me the strongest case against this plan in five points 2. Name the assumption that, if wrong, hurts us most 3. List what we would need to see in 90 days to know it is working 4. Tell me what a regulator, a key customer and our best employee would each worry about Do not soften anything. If a point is weak, say so.
Step 3
Prepare Your Questions and Your Ask
If you are the one presenting, flip it. Ask AI what the board will ask you.
I am presenting this to my board: [PASTE SUMMARY] The board includes: [ROLES, e.g. finance chair, legal, industry veteran] List the 10 questions they are most likely to ask, grouped by person. For each, draft a two sentence answer using only facts in my summary. Mark any question I cannot answer yet with GAP.
Step 4
Ask About AI Itself
Boards are now expected to oversee how the business uses AI. These are the questions I would want answered in any board pack.
- Where are we using AI today, and who owns each use?
- What data does it touch, and where is that data stored?
- What is our AI policy, and how do we know people follow it?
- Which decisions does AI inform, and where does a person sign off?
- What does it cost, and what do we get back?
Questions About AI for board members
How can board members use AI?
Board members can use AI to summarise board packs, stress test plans, prepare questions and check claims against the data provided.
Is it safe to put board papers into AI?
Only in a company approved tool with data protection settings on. Never use a personal account for confidential material.
What questions should a board ask about AI?
Ask where AI is used, who owns it, what data it touches, how policy is enforced, where people sign off and what it costs versus returns.
Can AI replace board judgment?
No. It helps you prepare and spot gaps. Decisions stay with the board.
Next step
Put This Guide to Work
If your board needs a clearer view of AI risk and value, we can walk through the questions to bring to the next meeting.