Board Directors: Where to Start With AI – My Top 5 Tools

Introduction

Board directors are constantly expected to make high-stakes decisions with limited time and an overwhelming amount of information. Board packs are getting longer, compliance requirements are increasing, and the speed of business is accelerating.

AI isn’t just hype—it’s already helping directors cut through the noise, work smarter, and stay ahead of the curve. But where do you start?

The key is to find AI tools that actually fit the way board directors work. Tools that don’t just store documents but help make sense of them. Tools that don’t just flood you with data but highlight what actually matters.

I’ve spoken to over 150 board directors about their biggest pain points and the AI solutions that are making a real difference. Over this post, I’ll break down five practical tools to help directors get started with AI.

First up: The problem of information overload in board packs—and how Tutaki is helping directors cut straight to the insights that matter.

1. Be a Thought Partner

Board directors are expected to have a broad understanding of finance, strategy, risk, governance, and industry trends—but no one can be an expert in everything.

Sometimes, you need a second brain. Someone to challenge your thinking, fill in knowledge gaps, and help you sharpen your perspective before stepping into a board meeting.

That’s where AI-powered expert personas come in. Instead of just searching for information, you can ask AI to "pretend" it’s an expert—giving you focused insights, analysis, and different perspectives on demand.

How ChatGPT Can Act as an Expert in Any Area

ChatGPT isn’t just a chatbot—it can simulate expert thinking and help you prepare more effectively. Try prompting it with:

✅ "Pretend you’re a CFO. How would you analyze these financials?" – Get a structured breakdown of key trends, risks, and red flags in a balance sheet or earnings report.
 ✅ "Act as an industry analyst. What market trends should I be paying attention to?" – Quickly surface relevant industry shifts and competitor moves before a meeting.
 ✅ "Take the perspective of a governance expert. What questions should I ask in this board meeting?" – Ensure you’re asking the right strategic questions in discussions.
 ✅ "Play the role of a risk consultant. What are the biggest blind spots in this decision?" – Get a risk analysis before approving major initiatives.

The Real Benefit: Filling in Your Blind Spots

The best board directors don’t just rely on their own expertise—they seek out different perspectives before making decisions. AI-powered thought partners like ChatGPT help directors:

• Think through issues like an expert—even in areas where they don’t have deep experience.

• Challenge their assumptions—so they don’t overlook risks or alternative strategies.

• Save time researching—by getting focused, expert-level summaries instantly.

If you’ve ever wished you had quick access to a financial expert, governance pro, or industry analyst before a board meeting, this is a tool worth trying.

2. Getting to the Point Faster in Board Packs

We’ve all been there—sitting down to prepare for a board meeting, staring at a 100+ page report, knowing that only a handful of pages actually contain the insights we need. But without reading through it all, how do you find them?

Some directors try skimming. Others rely on the CEO’s summary (if they’re lucky enough to get one). Many just don’t have time to go as deep as they’d like.

This is exactly where Tutaki comes in.

How Tutaki Helps Directors Cut Through Board Pack Overload

Tutaki is designed specifically for board directors—not just for storing documents, but for making sense of them. Instead of spending hours flipping through reports, directors can use AI to:

✅ Get instant summaries of board packs – Tutaki analyzes the full report and delivers a concise, focused summary of what’s most important.
✅ Highlight key risks and trends – Instead of manually searching for potential red flags, AI pinpoints them instantly.
✅ Track past decisions and commitments – Directors can quickly see what was discussed last time, what decisions were made, and whether follow-ups have been completed.
✅ Ask questions and get real-time answers – Need more context on a financial trend or operational update? Tutaki can provide a quick, AI-generated response based on all available data.

The Real Benefit: More Time for Strategic Thinking

One of the biggest frustrations I hear from directors is that they spend too much time on admin and compliance—and not enough time on strategy and big-picture discussions.

By taking the heavy lifting out of board pack review, Tutaki frees up time for what really matters—helping directors step into meetings better informed and ready to contribute at a higher level.

If you’ve ever felt like board materials are overwhelming, this is a game-changer.

3. Speed Up Email & Decision Workflows

For board directors, the sheer volume of emails and communication can be overwhelming. Between board packs, executive updates, investor queries, and governance reports, the inbox becomes less of a tool and more of a time sink.

📌 Too many emails, too little time – Important messages get buried under a flood of CCs and newsletters.
📌 Decision fatigue – Sifting through emails and prioritizing what needs attention drains mental energy.
📌 Slower response times – Directors juggling multiple boards can struggle to stay on top of key discussions.

Email overload isn’t just an annoyance—it slows down decision-making and eats into valuable strategic thinking time.

How Superhuman Helps Directors Manage Email Efficiently

Superhuman is more than just an email client—it’s a productivity tool that helps directors process emails faster, more intelligently, and with less effort.

Here’s how it can make a real impact:

✅ AI-Powered Inbox Prioritization – Superhuman automatically surfaces the most important emails first, ensuring directors never miss a critical message.
✅ Instant Summaries – Instead of reading through long email threads, AI generates a quick summary of key points so directors can make faster decisions.
✅ Smart Replies & Email Drafting – AI suggests responses, saving time on routine emails while ensuring professional, well-structured replies.
✅ Keyboard Shortcuts & Automation – Superhuman’s workflow tools enable rapid email triaging, cutting down inbox time dramatically.
✅ Follow-Up Reminders – Directors can set nudges for unanswered emails, ensuring important discussions don’t fall through the cracks.

The Real Benefit: More Time for Strategic Thinking

Email shouldn’t dictate your schedule—it should support your ability to lead effectively.

With AI-powered email management, directors can:

🚀 Spend less time sorting, reading, and responding to emails.
 🚀 Make faster, clearer decisions without getting bogged down.
 🚀 Stay on top of critical updates without drowning in their inbox.

For any director who’s ever felt buried under endless email chains, Superhuman offers a practical, time-saving solution.

4. Staying on Top of Industry Changes

Keeping up with shifting market trends, competitor activity, and regulatory updates is a constant challenge for board directors. The information is out there—but it’s scattered across news articles, analyst reports, government updates, and company filings.

It’s impossible to read everything. Even if you could, separating signal from noise is another challenge entirely.

This is where AI is making a real impact. Instead of manually searching for relevant news and reports, directors can use AI to surface only the most critical updates—without getting lost in information overload.

How Quid Helps Directors Stay Informed Without the Overwhelm

Quid is an AI-powered market intelligence tool that scans vast amounts of publicly available data—news articles, financial reports, press releases, and regulatory filings—to deliver concise, relevant insights.

Instead of skimming dozens of articles or waiting for a research report, directors can use Quid to:

✅ Track industry shifts in real-time – AI scans news, filings, and reports to highlight emerging trends and risks.
✅ Filter out irrelevant noise – No more sifting through low-value updates—Quid curates only what’s relevant based on your role and industry.
✅ Monitor competitors automatically – AI can surface what competitors are doing, including strategic moves, hiring trends, and financial shifts.
✅ Stay ahead of regulatory changes – Directors can get notified when new laws or compliance updates might impact their business.

The Real Benefit: Focus on What Matters, Ignore the Rest

Board directors don’t have time to wade through endless reports. The key is getting the right information at the right time—so you can engage in discussions with confidence, ask sharper questions, and make more informed decisions.

AI tools like Quid act like a personal research analyst, scanning the world of information and serving up only what you need—when you need it.

If staying informed feels overwhelming, this is a tool that can help cut through the clutter.

5. Automate Meeting Notes & Follow-Ups

Board meetings are meant for strategic discussions and decision-making, but too often, they turn into a blur of fast-moving conversations, complex reports, and action points that are hard to track.

📌 Taking notes while contributing is nearly impossible – Staying engaged in discussions while also trying to capture key takeaways is a challenge.
📌 Action items get lost – Without structured follow-ups, key decisions and next steps can slip through the cracks.
📌 Reviewing past meetings is time-consuming – Searching through old minutes to find specific discussions takes far too long.

Board directors need a way to stay fully engaged in meetings without worrying about losing important insights.

How Granola Helps Directors Capture & Track Meetings

Granola is an AI-powered meeting assistant that automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes discussions—so directors can focus on the conversation instead of scrambling to take notes.

Here’s how Granola makes meetings more productive:

✅ Real-Time Transcription – Captures everything said in a board meeting so directors can refer back later.
✅ AI-Generated Summaries – Converts long discussions into clear, concise takeaways, highlighting decisions, risks, and action points.
✅ Automatic Action Item Tracking – AI detects and lists key follow-ups, ensuring tasks don’t get forgotten.
✅ Searchable Meeting History – Directors can instantly find past discussions and decisions without digging through long minutes.
✅ Seamless Integration with Workflows – Meeting summaries can be easily shared or linked to board materials for quick reference.

The Real Benefit: Less Admin, More Focus on High-Impact Decisions

Instead of spending time writing notes, manually tracking actions, or trying to recall past discussions, directors can:

🚀 Stay engaged and contribute fully to meetings.
 🚀 Trust that no key decision or action item will be lost.
 🚀 Review meetings in minutes—not hours.

For any director who’s ever left a meeting wondering if they missed something important, Granola offers a clear, structured way to track and recall discussions effortlessly.

Final Thoughts: AI Isn’t Replacing Directors—It’s Making Them More Effective

The best board directors don’t just manage information—they master it. AI isn’t about replacing decision-making—it’s about helping directors work smarter, faster, and with more clarity.

If you’re just getting started with AI in the boardroom, these five tools are practical, easy to use, and already making a difference for directors worldwide:

📌 ChatGPT – AI-powered thought partner—ask it to "pretend" it’s a CFO, governance expert, or industry analyst to challenge your thinking.
📌 Tutaki – AI-powered board briefings to cut through information overload.
📌 Superhuman – AI-driven email management to prioritize what matters and clear your inbox faster.
📌 Quid – Stay ahead of industry shifts without drowning in reports.
📌 Granola – Automate meeting notes so you can stay engaged in discussions.

Board work is only getting more complex. The directors who embrace AI now will be the ones who lead the way forward.

Which AI tools have you tried? Would love to hear what’s working (or what’s holding you back).

#BoardLeadership #AI #Governance #Directors

By Jamie Green - Co-founder & CEO at Tutaki

↳ Ex-McKinsey strategist now helping board members get time back