AI has moved from buzz to boardroom reality in 2026. Leaders need a quick read on what matters now.- AI is becoming enterprise-wide; ROI gaps persist; boards push ROI, CEOs lag; prioritize governance, metrics, and workforce strategy.- Optimism grows post-ChatGPT with rising AI spending; accelerate value capture via strategic planning.- Boards seek CIOs to provide enterprise-wide AI governance, explainability, and ethics; governance central to strategy.- AI readiness ties to modernization and security; identity controls and API security essential.- Healthcare and education pilots show regulatory, safety, and talent needs; registries and grants boost productivity and future-ready workforce.Sources:- AI and the C-Suite: Implications for CEO Strategy in 2026 — https://www.conference-board.org/research/ced-policy-backgrounders/ai-and-the-c-suite-implications-for-ceo-strategy-in-2026- How Executives Are Thinking About AI Heading Into 2026 — https://hbr.org/2026/01/hb-how-executives-are-thinking-about-ai-heading-into-2026- AI Hits the Boardroom: What Directors Will Demand from CIOs in 2026 — https://www.cio.com/article/4113214/ai-hits-the-boardroom-what-directors-will-demand-from-cios-in-2026.html- Cloudflare AI Application Modernization Report — https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/01/16/cloudflare-ai-application-modernization-report/- Healthcare leaders welcome new national registry for AI note-taking tools — https://www.nhsconfed.org/news/healthcare-leaders-welcome-new-national-registry-ai-note-taking-tools- AMA grant AI-driven medical education — https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/01/15/ama-grant-ai-driven-md-education/Add me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsundlo/
