Keeping pace with AI and emerging technologies tops the list of challenges for US corporate boards over the coming year, according to a BDO report.
The 2026 BDO Board Survey – Governance In Focus: Navigating From Pressure to Disciplined Prioritization – found that 51% of boards are worried about AI moving too quickly for them to keep up, while 36% said their most significant challenge will be balancing competing priorities.
To help navigate this fast-changing operating backdrop, 53% of boards said they are increasing the frequency of board or committee meetings on emerging risks and opportunities, with 51% allocating more time to scenario planning and resilience and 48% proactively seeking independent third-party specialist insights.
Given the crowded board agenda, the governance areas most at risk of being deprioritised are board effectiveness, such as structure and continuing education (42%), followed by long-term strategy (31%) and crisis preparedness and planning (also 31%).
AI-related concerns are partly driven by potential governance weaknesses. A fifth of directors say they lack a clear governance oversight framework for AI adoption and cybersecurity risk, while only 36% say they strongly agree their boards have the skills and expertise to oversee AI, cybersecurity and data governance. Almost half of respondents (49%) said technology and innovation was the most important skillset or experience needed to enhance their board’s current composition, up from 42% in 2025.
The report stated: “Boards will need to increase their collective fluency to understand how new technologies affect strategy, risk and operations. Maintaining that fluency should be an ongoing process that combines director education with board refreshment, targeted recruitment, outside expertise and direct engagement with management and technical leaders.”
Management teams also need to expand their skillsets, directors say. Just over half of directors (52%) said that technology and innovation is an important capability for strengthening their C-suite, up from 38% a year ago. In addition, just 38% rate their management teams as highly effective at fostering an innovative environment, down from 46% in 2025.
The report noted: “Together, these findings suggest that greater exposure to emerging technologies may be sharpening boards’ understanding of where leadership capabilities and organisational readiness still need to improve.”
The report was based on a survey of 200 corporate directors in the US.
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