On the latest episode of Activist Investing Today, Diederik Timmer, president of Glass, Lewis & Co. LLC, discussed how AI is reshaping proxy voting and corporate governance analysis.

Glass Lewis uses AI to collect, structure and conduct “first-level” analysis, while in-house analysts “take stock” of all the information, make recommendations and produce voting guidance, Timmer said.

AI, he said, can improve efficiency in routine voting matters but can’t replace human judgment, particularly in contested situations such as proxy fights, shareholder campaigns and merger disputes. He emphasized that analysts remain central to evaluating governance issues and activist theses.

The discussion also focused on Glass Lewis’ decision to move beyond a single house policy and introduce multiple governance perspectives for clients. Timmer said the initiative reflects increasingly diverse investor priorities and growing demand for customized voting frameworks. Already, roughly 70% of the proxy adviser’s clients use customized policies, he explained.

Technology and AI are enabling greater policy customization and benchmarking while supporting investors’ fiduciary obligations, Timmer said.

Listen to the podcast with Diederik Timmer below:

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