Corporate boards are embracing artificial intelligence as Diligent launches its AI Board Member tool, offering directors a "digital colleague" with specialized personas like a "long-term value investor." Inspired by Warren Buffett's approach, the screen-based assistant joins a growing market of governance AI including Nasdaq's Boardvantage and Govenda's Gabii. Lloyds Banking Group and Mubadala have already deployed similar tools, signaling a significant shift toward technological assistance in corporate governance.

Legal hurdles remain significant as directors question whether AI can handle fiduciary duties. Patrick Sarch of White & Case states directors "cannot outsource them to other humans let alone computers." Concerns also exist about AI memory being subpoenaed or accessed by litigious shareholders, though options exist to wipe chatbot memory after meetings. Most AI tools currently operate more as advisors than active participants in board discussions.

Research suggests AI boards may outperform human ones on decision quality, evidence use, and inclusivity, though they struggle with informal aspects of governance. As Wharton's Valery Yakubovich notes, board members are chosen for connections and resources beyond decision-making capabilities. Buffett himself emphasized that "Thought and principles, not robot-like 'process' should guide their actions," leaving the ultimate value of AI board members still in question.