8 ways that meeting AI supports new board members

There’s rarely a slow start when stepping into a board role. From the first meeting, new members are expected to listen closely, understand quickly, and contribute meaningfully. Yet much of what’s discussed builds on past conversations, decisions, and documents. Without that context, it’s easy to feel one step behind. 

That’s where meeting AI helps. It offers a way to cut through the backlog, surface what matters, and build confidence early on. Rather than reading everything, new board members can focus on the right material. Instead of asking for help each time something is unclear, they can find answers independently. The result is a smoother start and more impactful participation. 

Here’s what we’ll explore in this article: 

• What meeting AI support is available for boards

• How AI help new members get up to speed 

• How AI supports board members during meeting preparation

• How meeting minutes become more actionable with AI 

• How Sherpany supports board members throughout the meeting lifecycle 

Used well, meeting AI gives new board members a better way to get started and a clearer path to making a difference. 

What is meeting AI for boards? 

Meeting AI refers to technology that uses artificial intelligence to support the meeting process. In the context of boards, this includes tools that summarise documents, identify key points in reports, and retrieve information across past meetings. 

These tools are trained on the types of documents boards use every day: agendas, minutes, reports, and memos. They don’t make decisions. They help surface relevant information, reduce manual effort, and support more strategic input from meeting participants. 

Board members need to embrace this shift. As LinkedIn’s CEO recently highlights, “My advice to business leaders is to get comfortable with the technology, to use it… It is almost certain that you're going to be asked by your CEO or your board, what’s your strategy for embracing AI in your area?”  

As interest in AI grows, more boards are exploring how it can be used without adding risk or complexity. The focus is usually narrow: better preparation, clearer records, and faster access to context. Some tools also help explain technical language or translate content when needed.

8 benefits of meeting AI for new board members 

It takes time to feel confident in a new board role. The topics are often complex, the pace is fast, and there’s history behind every agenda, and understanding it is not always straightforward. 

Meeting AI helps new members focus. It offers practical ways to catch up, prepare better, and take part in the conversation without feeling behind. And this is fast becoming the new normal for executives.  
 
As Microsoft’s CEO confirms in a recent interview, “AI agents will become the primary way we interact with computers in the future. They will be able to understand our needs and preferences, and proactively help us with tasks and decision making.” 

1. Meeting summaries cut through the noise 

New members are often given a stack of past minutes and expected to work things out on their own. But reading through every word isn’t always helpful. Some decisions are no longer relevant. Other discussions were left unresolved. 

As Daniel Shapero, COO at LinkedIn, explains, “There are a lot of meetings that I think would've been valuable to attend, but sometimes I can't be everywhere… I’ll often use [AI] to summarise meeting outcomes to make sure that I can stay on top of the business.” 

AI-generated summaries do the sorting for you. They pull out what matters, key actions, outcomes, and discussion points, so new members can focus their attention. It’s a faster way to get context, without needing to scan every line. And it helps them step into meetings already understanding what’s been covered and what still needs work. 

2. Pre-meeting preparation becomes more focused 

Board materials are often dense, and for new members, it can be hard to know where to begin. Not every section carries the same weight, but without experience, that’s not always obvious. 

AI can help by pointing to the parts that need attention. These might include items linked to upcoming decisions, open questions, or flagged risks. With that context, new members can spend less time figuring out what to read, and more time thinking about how to respond. 

This kind of focus gives preparation more direction. It also helps new members build confidence in their judgment. 

3. Answers arrive faster 

New members often have questions that don’t have obvious answers. Where was this discussed? Has this decision already been made? What’s the background on this topic? 

Without support, finding those answers means digging through folders or asking someone else. That takes time, and can slow things down just when momentum matters most. 

According to a 2025 working paper from Stanford Business School, “AI tools [can] prompt board members with key questions based on the agenda and possibly suggest the types of analysis that would be helpful for reaching a decision… Boards [can] compare the recommendations of AI against those of external strategy consultants.” 

Meeting AI helps by searching across agendas, minutes, and reports to find relevant information. It surfaces what’s been said and decided, and where that information came from. This removes friction and allows new members to stay focused without second-guessing themselves. 

4. Past decisions are easier to find 

Board discussions build over time. Many topics return across several meetings before a final decision is made. For someone new to the room, it’s hard to see that progression, or to know what’s already been agreed. 

AI tools can link current agenda items with relevant past decisions. Instead of reading through multiple sets of minutes, new members can trace how a discussion has developed and understand what’s been resolved. 

This helps avoid repeated conversations. It also means contributions are more informed and aligned with the board’s direction. 

5. Complex topics are easier to follow 

It’s common for board documents to include legal or financial terms that aren’t familiar to everyone at the table. For new members, this can slow things down and make it harder to keep pace. 

Some AI tools can step in to explain what certain terms mean or help simplify dense sections of text. In some cases, they can translate a document if it’s not in your first language. Instead of losing time on interpretation, members can focus on the decisions being made. 

6. Agendas are easier to understand 

Board agendas often follow a structure that’s familiar to experienced members but less clear to someone joining for the first time. Items may be grouped by topic, priority, or reporting line — but that logic isn’t always explained. 

AI tools can help clarify how an agenda is organised. Some provide short descriptions, while others highlight how each item connects to past decisions or current risks. This gives new members a clearer view of what’s being discussed and why. With this context, it becomes easier to prepare and take part in the meeting with confidence. 

7. Minutes become more useful (and actionable)

Minutes are often long and written for those who were in the room. For new members, they can be difficult to navigate. It’s not always clear how a decision was reached, or whether a topic is still ongoing. 

Some AI tools help bring order to this. They can connect the minutes to the agenda, highlight follow-ups, and group related points in the record. That structure gives new members a better way to stay informed between meetings. 

8. Learning happens more naturally 

Most boards don’t have a formal onboarding process. New members are expected to listen, observe, and find their way in. That can take time, especially when meetings are already moving at full speed. 

AI tools support that learning by providing context as it's needed. If a report refers to a past discussion, it can show where and when it happened. If a decision comes up again, it can link back to the original outcome. This helps new members understand how the board works, by seeing it in action, not just reading about it. 

How Sherpany’s AI meeting features support new board members 

Sherpany’s AI features are designed to support board work without adding complexity or risk. For new members, they offer practical support at the moments where it's most needed, during preparation and after the meeting ends. 

Document Copilot helps summarise large volumes of material before the meeting. Instead of reading everything, new members can review focused summaries and arrive better prepared. 

After the meeting, Minutes Copilot generates clear, structured summaries in real time. This removes the need to take notes manually and helps new members stay on top of action points, even if they’re still getting used to the board’s way of working. 

All AI features are built with confidentiality in mind. Sherpany’s tools run on a fully private model, which means no data is shared with public AI platforms. This protects sensitive discussions and ensures compliance with the board’s security standards. 

Give AI meeting support to your new board members today 

Joining a board is never simple, but the right tools can ease the transition. With meeting AI, new members can prepare more efficiently, catch up with less effort, and contribute with clarity from the start. 

Sherpany’s AI features are built to support that process, without compromising confidentiality or adding to the workload. Book a free demo to see how Sherpany’s AI meeting features can support your board.