Executive Summary For a couple of years, "AI governance" at most companies meant one overworked person in legal or compliance quietly adding "and also AI, I guess" to an already full job description. That era is closing out fast. Through 2026, AI oversight has been pulled out of the side-desk pile and turned into a formal executive function, with its own title, its own budget line, and increasingly, its own seat that reports straight to the CEO or the board. I'll be honest ab