As adoption rises, boards are struggling to match the pace of technological rollout. “In the era of AI, the greatest risk isn’t the technology itself, but the governance gap that it is creating. By developing strong expertise and robust oversight, organisations can secure a competitive advantage and navigate uncertainties in the year ahead with confidence,” says Dottie Schindlinger, executive director of the Diligent Institute.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has overtaken growth, cybersecurity and geopolitical risks as a top priority for nearly half (48%) of governance leaders in Asia heading into 2026. This is according to the APAC Governance Outlook 2026 report by the Diligent Institute, developed with the Singapore Institute of Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia.
The shift in priorities is already visible in operations. The report found that 57% of organisations in Asia have implemented AI in at least one part of their operations. Digital transformation, including AI risks and opportunities, is the leading board topic for 2026, cited by 70% of respondents, followed by growth strategies (68%). Shareholder activism and mergers and acquisitions ranked far lower at 9% and 13%, respectively.
