As generative artificial intelligence (genAI) redefines enterprise operations, governance, risk and compliance (GRC) functions sit at the intersection of transformation and accountability. The common narrative focuses on “effort reduction” — how many hours automation can reclaim. But that is table stakes.
In “Security, risk and compliance in the world of AI agents,” I discussed how the onslaught of agentic AI calls for a re-examination of how we think about risk, trust and control. Here, I want to challenge the narrative of automation-driven effort reduction and instead introduce a new archetype, the compliance super soldier: a forward-operating human GRC professional, equipped with judgment, foresight and ethical reasoning — augmented, not replaced, by genAI. This is not merely a defense against obsolescence. It’s a call to action for GRC professionals to level up, fast.
Failing to invest in this transformation introduces systemic risk: weakened governance, reputational fallout and operational fragility. But there’s equal risk on the human side of remaining static in a world that’s accelerating. As we explore what this evolution entails, we must understand both the technological disruption and the new strategic posture required.