This post addresses the current socially acceptable use of AI in business, particularly with respect to board meetings and strategy

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A board member and startup advisor reflects on when and how it's appropriate to use generative AI in business contexts, particularly board work and strategic analysis. The core argument: AI use is acceptable as long as you own the output — meaning you've read, challenged, and can defend it. Dismissing AI-generated content purely because of its origin is a logical fallacy, but presenting AI output as your own unreviewed thinking is an abdication of responsibility. The author draws an analogy to calculators: AI handles scaffolding so humans can focus on reasoning, but over-reliance risks cognitive atrophy. Practical workflow shared: loading board decks into Claude to generate summaries and questions, then challenging and refining the output before bringing it to meetings. Advocates for transparency about AI assistance rather than hiding it.

On the Socially Acceptable Use of AI in Business