What should a CMO tell the board about AI progress?

Lead with the business job

State which recurring task you are improving and why it matters. "We tested preparing local campaign drafts" is more useful than "We adopted an AI platform."

Use a four-part update

1. Evidence: what changed in completion time and accepted quality.
2. Cost: subscriptions, staff effort, setup and maintenance.
3. Risk: errors, source gaps and actions still requiring approval.
4. Decision: continue, revise, expand or stop.

Show a real example

Present an approved before-and-after workflow, with sensitive details removed. Explain what a person still does. Do not use a mockup as proof of production performance.

Illustrative editorial image, not a customer result.

Name uncertainty

A short pilot may establish less rework without proving revenue growth. Explain the longer test required to evaluate customer or commercial outcomes.

Make the request explicit

Ask for a specific resource or permission tied to the next stage and its success conditions. Avoid implying that the organization must buy more AI merely to keep up.

This week's action

Prepare a one-page update using those four headings. Have finance and the workflow owner review the evidence before the board meeting.

Discussion behind the question

This is original practical guidance prompted by a public discussion theme, not a claim that the poster represents all CMOs. Read the source discussion.

See how this could work for your team

Request a demo focused on this question, your current tools and the information your team already approves. SimplSolutions will confirm the available connections, scope and human review before proposing a setup. Request your demo.