Why every business needs an AI council

We work with lots of businesses to help them create an AI strategy and action plan. Our advice to all of them is that this is nigh on worthless without a way of implementing and managing it. Many organisations stumble when it comes to implementing AI because they lack that clear framework and organisational structure to manage it. This is where an AI council comes in. But what exactly is an AI council?

What is an AI council?

You can call it an AI council, an AI steering group, an AI centre of excellence – whatever you like. The point is that it is a formalised cross-functional team that oversees an organisation’s AI initiatives. It ensures AI projects align with business goals, adhere to ethical standards, and deliver measurable results.

What it’s not is a group of tech experts locked in a room talking ones and zeros. The most effective AI councils bring together diverse voices: tech leads, HR, marketing, legal, client service. Because AI isn’t just about technology, it’s about people.

The human side of AI adoption

As part of our services, we work with businesses to understand how their staff use and perceive AI within their organisation. In our staff readiness assessment results, we see clear trends such as a general lack of AI literacy, limited awareness of AI policies, and a nervousness about how AI will affect their roles.

With a diverse team, an AI council can help smooth the path to AI adoption by addressing different elements of change management, such as communications, employment issues and training.

Why your organisation needs an AI council

• Alignment with business goals:An AI council ensures that every AI project is tied to your organisation’s broader objectives, whether that’s increasing revenue, improving efficiency, or enhancing customer experiences.

• Ethical oversight:An AI council can identify and mitigate risks such as data bias, privacy violations, or unintended consequences of automation.

• Cross-functional collaboration:By bringing together diverse perspectives, an AI council breaks down silos and ensures that AI serves the entire organisation, not just the department that shouts the loudest.

• Faster decision-making:With a dedicated team focused on AI strategy and governance, your organisation can move from ideas to implementation faster and more efficiently.

• Focus: By separating it from your day-to-day leadership meetings, you stop it being an after-thought that falls below everything else on the agenda.

Practical tips for forming an AI council

• Start small:Begin with a core group of stakeholders who represent critical functions in your organisation. Expand as needed.

• Prioritise diversity:Include a mix of technical experts, business leaders, and individuals who deeply understand your customers and operations.

• Meet regularly:Regular meetings keep momentum going and allow the council to address challenges in real time.

• Focus on impact:Avoid getting bogged down in the biggest, most complex projects. Identify quick wins to demonstrate value and build support for AI initiatives.

• Give clear scope:Make it absolutely clear to the council what their scope is and what their individual roles are within it.

A vision for the future

At iwantmore.ai, we’ve seen firsthand that AI council’s work. We think it’s not just a good idea, but that it’s fundamental to the success of your AI implementation.

Contact us if you would like to talk about how to form an AI council in your organisation.