The Executive Access Study: The corporate disclosure gap surrounding executive AI use

Abstract

A review of the public record from 2024 to April 2026 found zero verified examples of senior executives running open-weight AI models locally on their personal hardware. Furthermore, the clearest documented example of an executive-specific AI deployment (at Lloyds Banking Group) revealed a move towards stricter, not lighter, governance. However, broad survey data confirms that directors and executives are actively using AI ahead of formal organisational policy and workforce provision. The result is a profound corporate disclosure gap: senior AI use is clearly visible in aggregate data, but the precise methods leaders use to access this capability remain largely hidden from public view.