The year is 2026 and artificial intelligence has completely taken the world by storm. And so far, every inch of the economy has shifted at record speed, and no longer is everyday life what it used to be.
By definition, the concept of AI is both simple yet complex. It is known as an emerging technology that allows machines and computers to generate information on its own, performing tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. By being fed large amounts of existing data, AI tools are intended to recognize patterns, make predictions, and handle routine problems in a matter of seconds. With the help of AI, it is supposed to make work flow easier and handle what would otherwise take hours for humans to accomplish.
At first glance, AI seems to hold immense potential for the future of work. What is better than a singular agent that manages every responsibility for you? Or a modern tool that computes the data while you get to narrow your attention elsewhere? Or an automated assistant that makes all the important decisions for you?
On another side, however, experts say AI is quite risky, especially for companies that have been quick to integrate AI agents into their operations. For CEOs, VPs, and Board members, there are some consequences to watch as AI starts to move from experimentation to full-scale implementation in 2026.
One risk is that AI agents can be quick to act on their own without requesting permission. As organizations deploy AI to manage workflows, leaders are realizing how abruptly control can slip away. When this happens, it can lead to severe security breaches, data leaks, and legal liability, often hijacking workflows to manipulate files and in worse-case scenarios, disrupt goals that conflict with human intent.
As CEO of Iterate.ai and expert in the field of AI Jon Nordmark argues, without proper guardrails behind this, it is often what causes more harm in the long term.
“Autonomous, self-learning AI agents are emerging fast. By mid-2027, they may operate independently, learn continuously, and make decisions on their own—using your company’s data. Governance, oversight, and safety controls are not keeping pace,” Nordmark explains.
The second major risk around AI is the leaking of company secrets into public large language models (LLMs) and shared GPU environments. Employees across departments are already using public AI tools to analyze internal data and organize important files, and while these capabilities improve efficiency, they could expose confidential information that poses larger dangers across the organization.
Putting this further into perspective, according to recent industry surveys, almost half of employees admit to using AI in ways that contravene company policies, including uploading sensitive company information into free public AI tools like ChatGPT. That data does not disappear, and the more it spreads, the more organizations lose sight of where their private information goes.
Data hoarding by public LLMs and the rise of nested learning architectures is another implication to observe closely this year, and it is one that could erode innovation entirely.
Nordmark adds, “We are approaching AI systems that don’t just answer questions—but improve other AI systems. When your data fuels nested learning loops you don’t control, competitive advantage and IP can leak permanently.”
Altogether, these risks point to a greater issue many leaders still have yet to get right. AI adoption is evidently underway, but failing to implement it thoughtfully reshapes responsibility, risk, and overall advantage. If board members expect to thrive in this era of AI, it starts with noticing the threats, and making necessary adjustments to scale responsibly.
In 2026, adopting AI is just one of the very first steps to improving modern work culture. But if CEOs, VPs, and Board members want to remain competitive in the market, that means they must establish clear governance structures, limit where sensitive data goes, and ensure humans remain accountable within the process.
While there are AI risks to approach this year, let’s hope every company can make these shifts today.