GCs' AI Literacy Boosts Corporate Strategy Influence
General Counsels leverage AI expertise in strategic corporate decisions.
Why it matters: As AI becomes pivotal in business, GCs' AI expertise shapes strategic oversight and decision-making, impacting governance and compliance.
- 57% of GCs use AI, with 48% prioritizing AI skills.
- GCs solve data issues like CFOs once did with finance.
- EU AI Act assigns GCs board-level AI governance roles.
- Gartner urges GCs to enhance people, processes, and data.
General Counsels (GCs) are increasingly central to strategic decisions in corporations due to their growing expertise in artificial intelligence (AI). Unlike their traditional legal advisory roles, GCs today address data and AI-related challenges. Jennifer Hill, CEO of ThoughtRiver, points out that GCs manage data issues similarly to how Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) transformed financial aspects in the past (Artificial Lawyer).
According to the "Future-Ready General Counsel 2026" report by Plexus, 57% of GCs have adopted AI technology, with emphasis on acquiring skills in AI literacy (48%), business acumen (40%), and data analytics (22%). This shift places GCs at the epicenter of data governance, impacting strategic decision-making (Plexus).
AI governance is further emphasized by the EU AI Act, which increases the strategic responsibility of GCs, assigning them board-level roles to ensure AI compliance. This development requires GCs to address new regulatory challenges and align them with corporate strategic goals (Larson Maddox).
Gartner highlights the necessity for companies to focus on 'people, processes, and data' to boost AI integration, which simultaneously enhances the strategic influence of GCs in governance (Gartner). This approach ensures that GCs remain vital in aligning AI initiatives with corporate objectives.
By the numbers:
- 57% — Current GC adoption rate of AI technologies.
- 48% — GCs prioritizing AI literacy as a key skill.
- 22% — GCs focusing on data analytics capabilities.