New Diligent Institute / Governance Institute of Australia data shows 61% of Australian boards restrict employee AI use while only 13% have an AI-literate director — proof that restriction and real governance are pulling apart. NIST's expanding AI Risk Management Framework and the EU AI Act's 2 August 2026 third-party accountability deadline show how structured, evidence-based workflows are what actually let AI adoption move faster, safely.
AI initiatives often stall due to unclear ownership and generic vendor assurances. This article explains why business leaders must own AI risks from the start and demand practical, risk-based evidence from third parties to avoid costly delays.