Introduction

In 2025, a provocative question is shaking up boardrooms, startups, and tech summits alike: Will AI ever run a company? What was once science fiction is inching closer to reality. While artificial intelligence began as a tool to assist with automation and data analysis, its rapid evolution into business decision-making roles is forcing leaders to rethink the very structure of corporate leadership.

From customer support to sales outreach, content creation to financial analysis—AI has become an indispensable copilot. But could it step into the shoes of a CEO? Could it manage a workforce, guide strategy, and lead an organization to growth—all without being human?

AI Copilots Are Already Here

Thanks to advancements in large language models like GPT-4o, Claude, and Google Gemini, AI has grown from being a passive assistant to an active business tool. Microsoft Copilot, for instance, now helps executives manage meetings, summarize documents, and prepare strategy decks in minutes. GitHub Copilot assists software developers in writing robust code efficiently.

We are living in the AI Copilot era, where:

  • AI can write marketing content that converts.
  • AI can analyze millions of financial records instantly.
  • AI can suggest hiring decisions based on performance data.

In fact, research by McKinsey shows that AI could automate up to 60% of managerial tasks. With this kind of influence, it’s natural to ask: Will AI ever run a company entirely?

Where AI Is Already Leading

You don’t need to imagine what it looks like—because it’s already happening.

NetDragon Websoft Appoints AI CEO

In 2022, Chinese tech company NetDragon Websoft made headlines by appointing an AI-powered CEO named Ms. Tang Yu. The AI leader handled operations, monitored performance, and optimized workflows. According to the company, this move improved execution efficiency and risk management.

HyperWrite’s Autonomous Agents

The startup HyperWrite launched AI agents capable of conducting business tasks end-to-end: writing emails, browsing the web, updating spreadsheets, and even engaging with customers autonomously.

DoNotPay: The AI Lawyer

Dubbed “The world’s first robot lawyer,” DoNotPay uses AI to handle legal procedures like disputing parking tickets and canceling subscriptions. It’s not running a company, but it’s replacing key business functions.

These early experiments raise an eyebrow: if AI can already do the tasks of leadership, how far are we from AI actually leading?

What Experts Say About AI as a CEO

Let’s examine the expert opinions surrounding the possibility.

  • Ben Goertzel (SingularityNET):
    “We may soon see AI systems that can outperform human CEOs in certain strategic and analytical tasks.”
  • Gary Marcus (Cognitive Scientist):
    “AI lacks emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and cultural context—things CEOs need every day.”
  • Arvind Krishna (IBM CEO):
    “Managers won’t be replaced by AI—but those who don’t use AI will be replaced by those who do.”

While most experts agree AI will play a central role in decision-making, they are divided on whether it can independently lead without human intuition and ethics.

The Risks of Letting AI Run a Company

While the benefits are exciting, there are serious risks and ethical dilemmas to consider before putting AI in charge:

  • No Emotional Intelligence: AI cannot empathize with employees or customers.
  • Accountability Issues: Who is responsible when AI makes a bad call—developers or companies?
  • Bias in Algorithms: AI can reflect and amplify harmful biases present in its training data.
  • Lack of Vision: AI is great with data, but can it inspire teams, build culture, or pivot during a crisis?

Also, there are legal gaps. Most corporate governance structures don’t legally recognize AI as a “person,” which limits its executive authority.

What This Means for the Future of Work

Instead of a full AI takeover, we may see hybrid leadership emerge:

  • AI handles: Strategic analysis, performance monitoring, predictive modeling, operational decisions.
  • Humans handle: Vision-setting, crisis management, culture-building, and ethical decision-making.

This would lead to flatter organizations, where decisions are automated but human creativity and empathy remain at the core.

In such organizations:

  • Employees collaborate with AI “managers.”
  • Leadership roles become more dynamic.
  • Critical thinking and ethical reasoning become top skills.

Final Thoughts: Will AI Ever Run a Company?

So, will AI ever run a company? The answer lies in the middle.

  • AI can definitely lead operationally.
  • AI can make data-driven decisions faster than any human.
  • But leadership isn’t just logic—it’s emotional intelligence, adaptability, and trust.

The future of business leadership will be collaborative—a symbiosis of human insight and machine precision. We may not see an AI-only CEO running a Fortune 500 company tomorrow, but AI will absolutely co-lead the organizations of the future.

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