Boards are under growing pressure to understand AI without falling for hype. Drawing on research from MIT CISR and Wharton/INSEAD, this article explores what digital and AI competence really means at board level, why technology should support rather than replace human judgment, and how expectations of board members are changing

While tech predicts an AI-shaped future, everyday life tells another story. Looking ahead to 2026, this piece cuts through the hype to examine what AI really means for democracy, business leadership, sustainability, and human agency, and why the most important choices ahead are not technological, but human.