Recommended resources for directors, from directors

2024 has been the year where AI, generative AI and LLMs in particular, have begun embedding as key tools across many workplaces.

Boards are grappling with the challenges of keeping ahead of the curve, ensuring adoption of new tech is delivering genuine business benefits and being a ‘conscience’ of the company when it comes to AI ethics.

Unsurprisingly, there has been no shortage of briefings, seminars and advice on all things AI for non-executives. Here we have collected a few resources which our members recommend.

Strategic applications | Global Regulation & context | Specific Implementations | Understanding the tech

Do let us know if there are more you would add! Get in touch at contact@wbdirectors.co.uk

Strategic applications

Strategic AI Integration for Senior Leaders, WB Directors x Bain
From our Directors’ Circle webinar with Bain Consulting (Nov 2024)

Boardroom Essentials. Are Directors Actually Ready?
Interview discussion, with our member Shefaly Yogendra. (October 2024)

Welcome to AI: A Human Guide to Artificial Intelligence by David Shrier
Book, published March 2024. With thanks to Annie Coleman for the suggestion.

AI for social good and sustainability: driving positive change
T3 Consulting, (Dec 2024)

What AI risks are keeping board members up at night?
Article, WSJ (Aug 2024)

AI and the Board: 6 areas Directors must consider
Article, DCRO Risk Governance Institute (published 2023, but principles still hold)

Strategic level training:

Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme
Delve into the real-world implementations of AI, both in your organisation and the broader society.
6 week online course, £2,495

Global regulation & context

EU AI Act guidelines on scope and prohibitions to come in early 2025
Pinsent Masons, Nov 2024

Shaping the future of AI Governance
Insights from the European AI Office’s General-Purpose AI Code of Practice Draft. T3 Consultants.

Tech Nation report UK
Discover the latest investment data and trends shaping UK tech in the age of AI. Plus, get insider insights from the biggest names in tech. Register to download.

AI Index, Human-centred Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University
Published in April, a 500-page report tracking 2023’s worldwide trends in AI. Keep an eye out in a few months for next year’s!

Specific implementations

Ensuring fairness in AI powered recruitment systems
T3 Consultants – Nov 2024

Artificial intelligence in UK financial services
The Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority conducted a third survey of artificial intelligence and machine learning in UK financial services. Nov 2024

AI Insights, Bain Consulting
AI is offering tangible benefits across industries and business functions – Bain collect learnings from early adopters in different industries.

Considerations when adopting an AI policy for your staff teams.
Morgan Lewis – based on a June 2024 webinar.

Key considerations when evaluating an AI vendor
Article, Morgan Lewis – January 2024

Understanding the tech

Whilst deep technical knowledge is not required for non-executive directors, getting ‘hands-on with the tech’ is common recommendation. Several of our NED members have chosen to build their understanding of the systems and parameters of AI technology with online courses below.

Prompt Engineering – Vanderbilt University via Coursera
How to use Chat GPT (or similar LLMs) – helpful as an individual professional to boost your personal productivity, and to get a hands-on understanding.

Elements of AI – Helsinki University
Learn what AI is, what can (and can’t) be done with AI, and how to start creating AI methods (some coding knowledge is useful but not a pre-requisite).

How data lies – The Alan Turing Institute
Deep-dive into the data ethics underpinning AI technology. They propose an alternative title: “How learning to lie with data is essential to prevent AI from being sexist and racist.”