BCG study highlights AI knowledge gap at board level

A new study from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) suggests that while AI is becoming a strategic priority across industries, gaps remain between CEOs and boards in understanding how the technology will reshape business operations and growth.

The global survey of 625 CEOs and board members found that nearly 40 percent of CEOs believe their boards lack “an informed view of how AI is reshaping growth strategy”. At the same time, 75 percent of board members said their AI knowledge is on a par with or ahead of peers.

The findings highlight a broader challenge as organisations move from AI experimentation to operational deployment, placing greater emphasis on governance, oversight and leadership understanding.

Julie Bedard, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, said stronger collaboration between executives and boards will be essential.

“A powerful way for CEOs to bridge the gap between their AI knowledge and their boards’—especially if they feel there is a deficit there—is for the CEO to personally lead an AI upskilling session for their board to show them the latest AI tools and what they can do,” she said.

“CEOs can also bridge the gap by talking about AI in a much more differentiated way to clearly illustrate where AI can be a substitute for humans and where it can complement human work.”

The study also found broad consensus on the importance of AI literacy, with around 80 percent of respondents saying future board members should demonstrate measurable understanding of AI’s industry impact.

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