AI, Risk, and the Infinite Game: Why Standing Still Isn’t Safe
AI, Risk, and the Infinite Game: Why Standing Still Isn’t Safe
The 2025 RMIA Risk Conference was full of buzz about AI.
From the opening energy of Adam Spencer to the sharp provocations of Dr Adam Kubani and the insights shared by our member panels, one thing was clear: AI is not a future conversation; it’s a now conversation.
And it got me thinking.
Not just about the technology itself, but about the profession we’re in. What is the role of risk professionals in this moment? How do we lead with clarity, care, and credibility when the technology is moving faster than the frameworks?
AI offers incredible potential for productivity, insight, and innovation; but many leaders are stuck. They want to move, but don’t know how to do so safely. That’s where risk leadership matters most.
From Paralysis to Purpose: The Moment Risk Must Lead
Across sectors, we’re seeing the same pattern; organisations know AI could transform how they work and make decisions, but without clear governance or risk appetite, progress stalls. Or AI is adopted quietly, without oversight, policy, or alignment.
At the RMIA, we’re seeing a shift. Risk professionals are no longer asking when it will be safe to start. They’re asking:
What’s the smallest safe step we can take now?
How do we enable experimentation without creating exposure?
How do we take the robot out of the people’s work, not the people out of the work?
This shift signals a new kind of leadership from the risk profession. It’s not just about managing compliance, it’s about supporting progress.
The Role of Risk Is Evolving — and So Must We
Risk professionals are stepping into broader roles. They are becoming strategic enablers, cultural influencers, and trusted advisors. AI is not just another item on the risk register; it is changing the very nature of how decisions are made.
The future relies on risk. Risk professionals are helping their organisations navigate complex change, guide technology adoption, and ensure integrity in times of uncertainty.
Why AI Demands an Infinite Game Mindset
AI doesn’t sit still. It evolves quickly, often beyond the pace of internal processes. That’s why we need a different mindset.
Simon Sinek describes the infinite game as one where there is no finish line. The goal is not to win, but to keep playing; with purpose, adaptability, and a long-term view.
That’s the posture we need to adopt with AI. There won’t be a final policy or perfect framework. There will only be a changing environment that demands good questions, sound judgment, and flexible guardrails.
The role of risk is to support the business through this, not hold it back.
What Risk Leadership Looks Like in Practice
Risk professionals who are already leading in this space are doing five things:
Refreshing risk appetite statements to include AI-specific considerations such as transparency, accountability, and data ethics.
Supporting safe-to-fail AI experiments under clear oversight, with review processes that support learning and iteration.
Mapping out where informal AI use is already happening in the business, to bring visibility and guidance.
Shifting from rules to questions. Encouraging decision-makers to ask the right things before deploying AI.
Modelling calm confidence; not claiming to have all the answers, but guiding others through ambiguity.
If You’re Not Leading, Someone Else Is
One of the biggest risks right now is inaction. If the risk team doesn’t help shape AI use, someone else will. Or worse, no one will.
Without clear guidance, AI will be adopted in ways that lack oversight and consistency. That’s not innovation, it’s exposure.
Risk professionals don’t need to say no to AI. They need to say yes, with clarity, care, and a plan.
What the RMIA Is Doing
The RMIA is helping the profession adapt and lead. Our certifications, training, and member community are focused on equipping risk professionals for emerging challenges, including AI.
We are integrating AI into our thinking on capabilities, ethics, and leadership. We’re supporting conversations around risk appetite, data use, and responsible innovation.
This isn’t just about technology; it’s about the kind of profession we want to be.
A Call to Risk Professionals, CEOs and Change Agents
How is your organisation navigating the tension between enablement and caution?
Are you exploring AI frameworks and appetite statements? Are you already seeing early adoption happening quietly?
Let’s share what’s working and where the challenges are. Let’s help each other move forward — safely, deliberately, and with purpose.
Key Takeaway
AI doesn’t need a perfect policy. It needs principled leadership. That’s what risk professionals are here to provide.
Written by Simon Levy, RMIA CEO