6 AI Risks Every Business Leader Should Understand

AI is quickly becoming part of everyday business operations – from productivity tools to automation to analytics. However, many organizations are adopting AI without completely understanding all the risks that come with it. 

When AI is introduced without structure, governance, or leadership alignment, businesses may unknowingly find themselves:  

• Missing out on ROI 

• Experiencing confusion 

• Dealing with risk that’s difficult to unwind later

This executive-focused tip sheet outlines six of the most common AI risks businesses face when implementing AI without a clear strategy. It’s designed to help leaders pause, assess, and make informed decisions before AI becomes a liability instead of an advantage. 

Inside, you’ll explore: 

• Where AI introduces hidden business risk if adopted without clear direction. 

• How uncoordinated use can undermine consistency, accountability, and control. 

• Why over-reliance on AI outputs can lead to poor strategic decisions. 

• The impact AI has on trust, adoption, and culture. 

• How misaligned AI investments can erode ROI and distract from priorities. 

• Why governance and executive oversight are critical as AI adoption scales. 

Rather than prescribing tools or platforms, this checklist helps leaders understand where AI risk lives inside the business, and what must be addressed before scaling AI initiatives.