Will AI replace ceos?
Updated
Chief executives score 42 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 67%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 8% outright, and 25% stays with people.
- 8% AI can do it
- 67% AI helps
- 25% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 56% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 31 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 2 of them today, speeds up 21 and leaves 8 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services. AI drafts reports and summaries; executive reviews before presenting. | 70% AI can do it |
| Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs. AI drafts budgets from data; executive reviews and approves. | 62% AI can do it |
| Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals. AI explains regulations well; accuracy review needed for legal interpretation. | 58% AI helps |
| Direct or conduct studies or research on issues affecting areas of responsibility. AI can search, synthesize, and draft study findings for review. | 58% AI helps |
| Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change. AI analyzes performance data well; judgment on staff stays human. | 55% AI helps |
| Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes. AI can check and summarize staff reports; executive decides approval. | 55% AI helps |
| Organize or approve promotional campaigns. AI drafts campaign concepts and copy; executive approves final direction. | 55% AI helps |
| Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support interests of the general population or special groups. AI analyzes bills and drafts recommendations; values judgment stays human. | 55% AI helps |
| Coordinate the development or implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes. AI drafts control processes and documentation; leaders approve them. | 50% AI helps |
| Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency. AI drafts analyses and flags spending; executive decides allocation. | 45% AI helps |
Show the other 21 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare bylaws approved by elected officials, and ensure that bylaws are enforced. AI drafts bylaw text; enforcement and approval stay with officials. | 45% AI helps |
| Direct non-merchandising departments, such as advertising, purchasing, credit, or accounting. Support functions are largely digital; leading the teams stays human. | 45% AI helps |
| Deliver speeches, write articles, or present information at meetings or conventions to promote services, exchange ideas, or accomplish objectives. AI drafts speeches and articles; delivery and presence remain personal. | 42% AI helps |
| Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems. AI can draft remediation plans; executive is responsible for accountability and execution. | 35% AI helps |
| Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinate functions among departments and sites. AI can draft role charters; coordinating people stays with leaders. | 33% AI helps |
| Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity. Strategic direction is leadership work; AI supports planning analysis. | 30% AI helps |
| Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities. AI can review contract terms; negotiation and signing stay human. | 30% AI helps |
| Make presentations to legislative or other government committees regarding policies, programs, or budgets. AI can prepare briefing materials; live testimony stays human. | 30% AI helps |
| Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products. Operational oversight mixes analytics with people and physical operations. | 28% AI helps |
| Conduct or direct investigations or hearings to resolve complaints or violations of laws, or testify at such hearings. AI sorts evidence and drafts findings; hearings need human judgment. | 25% AI helps |
| Direct or coordinate activities of businesses involved with buying or selling investment products or financial services. Trading and advice decisions carry legal accountability; AI assists analysis. | 25% AI helps |
| Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments. Selecting leaders relies on judgment, interviews, and accountability. | 22% AI helps |
| Administer programs for selection of sites, construction of buildings, or provision of equipment or supplies. Site visits and construction oversight are physical; AI helps planning. | 22% AI helps |
| Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems. Live meetings and interpersonal negotiation need people in the room. | 15% Needs a person |
| Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations. Relationship building depends on trust, presence, and live conversation. | 15% Needs a person |
| Preside over, or serve on, boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards. Board service requires fiduciary duty, live debate, and personal accountability. | 15% Needs a person |
| Nominate citizens to boards or commissions. Nominations depend on local relationships and political judgment. | 15% Needs a person |
| Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them. Appointments rest on personal judgment, trust, and legal accountability. | 12% Needs a person |
| Refer major policy matters to elected representatives for final decisions. Referring policy to elected officials is political, accountable judgment. | 12% Needs a person |
| Attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils or council committees. Needs physical presence and live judgment in public meetings. | 8% Needs a person |
| Represent organizations or promote their objectives at official functions, or delegate representatives to do so. Attending events in person and building goodwill needs physical presence. | 8% Needs a person |
How chief executives compare
All occupations (923)
Management (56)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $213,990 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 204,350 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +3.2% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Approve AI-drafted budgets line by line in Microsoft Excel
- Check AI-written board reports in Microsoft PowerPoint before presenting
- Track program milestones and budget variances in Microsoft Project
- Verify AI explanations of statutes with legal counsel before acting
- Hold board and investor relationships in person and on live calls
- Reassign initiative owners after reviewing status in Atlassian JIRA
Safer roles nearby
2 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about chief executives and AI
Will ceos be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly drafting reports and preparing budgets. The executive still reviews and approves those outputs, and hiring, delegation, and board decisions stay with people.
Which tasks is AI taking over for chief executives?
Drafting reports and preparing budgets are the most exposed, with exposure scores of 70 and 62. AI drafts reports and budgets from company data, and the executive shifts to reviewing and approving them. Analyzing operations for performance gaps and reviewing staff reports come next, since AI can check and summarize both.
Which chief executive tasks stay with people?
Attending council meetings and representing the organization at official functions score 8 on exposure. Appointing department heads and referring policy to elected representatives score 12, since those decisions rest on personal judgment, trust, and legal accountability. Board liaison work scores 15, because it depends on live conversation.
How do chief executives stay valuable as AI takes tasks?
Review every AI draft of a board report in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel before it leaves the room. Set approval rules for AI-prepared budgets in Microsoft Excel, and check statute summaries with counsel before acting. Spend the time AI frees on the in-person board, investor, and department head conversations that carry the job.
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Next steps for chief executives
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