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OnBoard Launches AI Assist: Revolutionizing Board Management with AI

OnBoard has made a significant stride in the realm of board management with the introduction of AI Assist. This state-of-the-art feature promises to enhance communication and decision-making in board meetings by leveraging artificial intelligence. AI Assist allows directors, administrators, and executives to interact using plain language, making it easier to drill down into past discussions and decisions, backed by cited answers.

The necessity for such a feature became apparent from OnBoard's 2026 Board Effectiveness Survey, where it was found that 92% of directors had utilized AI for their board work in the last six months. However, a staggering 63% of those same directors operated on boards without a clear policy regarding AI usage. This raises critical questions surrounding governance, confidentiality, and data security.

What makes AI Assist particularly noteworthy is its seamless integration with existing access permissions. This means directors can only access materials they are authorized to view, and importantly, customer data is never used to train AI models. This commitment to security maintains the integrity of sensitive information while empowering board members to make informed choices.

During a beta test of AI Assist, users experienced firsthand the advantage of having historical context at their fingertips. The AI was capable of retrieving information that could potentially alter decisions, which ranged from previously overlooked risks in board materials to unresolved conditions linked to earlier investment approvals. This feature fosters a deeper understanding of historical decisions, enabling directors to connect current proposals with established precedents effectively.

Tim Adair, Chief Product Officer at OnBoard, highlighted the importance of contextual insights: _“Every director wants to ask the sharp question, and that takes context beyond this month's packet.”_ He pointed out that understanding what has changed since the last discussion can critically affect the decisions that boards make.

Furthermore, AI Assist aims to bolster the institutional memory that is central to effective governance. Marc Huffman, the CEO of OnBoard, noted that the retention of knowledge is crucial, especially when long-standing committee chairs retire. New directors may struggle to comprehend the rationale behind previous decisions. AI Assist endeavors to ensure that such knowledge remains accessible, enhancing the board's operational continuity.

As boards frequently face new challenges and decisions, the utility of AI Assist in surfacing relevant historical context cannot be overstated. It empowers boards to maintain a cohesive narrative across years, bridging knowledge gaps and establishing a robust decision-making framework.

OnBoard invites interested parties to attend a live demonstration scheduled for October 15 at 11 a.m. ET, where Tim Adair, alongside Michael Staden, Senior Director of Product Management, will showcase the capabilities of this innovative tool. Attendees can register for the live event on the OnBoard website.

With over 7,000 organizations spanning 60 countries relying on OnBoard for their board management needs, the launch of AI Assist represents a pivotal shift toward technology-driven governance. This feature is nothing short of a game-changer, promising to redefine how boards prepare, collaborate, and manage their responsibilities. For more information about OnBoard and AI Assist, visit their official website.