Do We Even Need an AI Policy?
Hi my fellow AI explorers,
The short answer is: yes, right now we do need an AI policy in our businesses.
Why? Because the number one reason people hesitate to upskill in AI is uncertainty. They’re unsure about what’s allowed and what isn’t, and nobody wants to get it wrong.
An AI policy isn’t about creating a cage; it’s about creating a safe playground for learning and experimentation.
So, how do you craft one?
What Makes a Good AI Policy?
You could ask ChatGPT to write you an AI policy, but it’ll likely be quite generic and focus on things like avoiding bias in training data. That’s not tailored to your business.
When I develop AI policies for businesses, I start with I know I should have in the policy, I bring in adjacent policies to align, and yes, I use AI to help me put it all together.
But I drive this process, not the AI.
Let me share with you the three things that every AI policy should include:
1. Approved Tools & Handling Confidential Information
Staff need clarity on which tools they can use and where they can share confidential information.
Asking people not to share confidential information with AI is like asking them to learn how to ride a bike but telling them that they are only allowed to drive inside the home.
You must provide your team with paid, secure accounts, with the right security settings, so that they can get experience using it in their everyday workflows. Yes, including client data.
Your AI policy should offer clear instructions on where confidential data can be shared with AI so your team can really have a good go with it and develop their skills
2. Responsible Use of AI
We all know that we should use AI as an assistant, but not to make decisions.
We all know that we should own everything we deliver. If something is wrong, we can't say "but the AI said it".
We tell everyone that they must verify everything that comes out of AI. But do they know how?
Your AI policy should give people clear steps for HOW to verify the output of AI.
This makes it easier for them, and safer for everyone.
3. Personal vs. Professional Use
Right now, I suggest we allow, and even encourage personal use of company-provided AI tools to help staff upskill.
The more people use it, the better they get at using AI.
And it doesn't even use business resources like printer paper or ink.
Of course, the policy should touch on using it in a professional manner.
Regular Updates
You will need to review your AI policy more frequently than any other policy you have.
This technology changes quickly, and you want your policy to be up to date.
At some point in the future, it will merge with your other policies on general use of AI, but for now, it does need to stand on its own.
Finally
I hope this helps!
Let me know what you think.
And if you’d like support creating an AI policy tailored to your business, feel free to reach out.
Inbal Rodnay
Guiding Firms in Adopting AI and Automation
Keynote speaker | AI Workshops | Executive briefings | Consulting CIO
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