Tips or strategies for simplifying complex AI concepts for your board of directors?
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Preparation steps :
- Ask the board of directors in advance what they expect from the presentation (the goal to reach).
- Each slide should answer one question or explain one concept, no more.
- Build a story through the slides.
Presentation :
- Make them curious/focus : show why this AI matters and how it solves a real problem.
- Start simple and go deeper if needed : begin with "easy to understand" explanations and add details if necessary.
- Listen to the board's questions and adapt for a smooth presentation.
Make is visual, take them on an exciting journey and show the art of the impossible (and of course the associated risks).
Start with the business needs and go back.
Your storytelling should highlight the business needs and how the technology spotted out the related insights wit data and proposed the technological solution.
Answer few of below questions to help board to understand the trends around AI.
1. How routine work can be automated with human intelligence,
2. How to improve productivity without much investment,
3. Hiw generative ai is helping organisations,
4. What is hype and what is real.
Here are 5 tips I would recommend,
1. Relate AI to what they already care about—whether it's ROI or improving efficiency. Skip the tech details; just show how it impacts their business decisions.
2. Use simple visuals. A flowchart or decision tree can help explain how AI takes data and turns it into insights.
3. Compare AI to an executive assistant. It’s great at sorting through data but still needs human input for big decisions, which makes it less intimidating.
4. Show how AI aligns with their goals, whether that's growth or efficiency. It’s not about the tech, it’s about achieving their strategy.
5. Start small with pilot projects. Quick wins build confidence without overwhelming them with big, risky investments.
Pro-Tip: I found it helpful to create a cheat sheet with a simple glossary of AI terms - things like ‘machine learning,’ ‘predictive analytics,’ etc, especially if the board isn't familiar with AI terms. It saves them from feeling confused, avoids getting lost in jargon, and helps them follow along without interrupting during your presentation.