Navigating the AI Frontier: 9 Essential Steps for Protection
In recent months it feels as though I can’t so much as drive to the grocery store without catching a news snippet about how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing our jobs and lives.
Just about every leader is looking for ways to cut costs, drive efficiencies, and increase speed through AI business solutions. Nearly every contributor is trying to dabble to up skill, stay relevant, and work faster and smarter.
We’re leveraging Gemini in Google Workspace conservatively as a digital partner to jumpstart brainstorming, contribute to slides, fact-check our findings, and take meeting notes. We’re also dreaming up ways to use AI to help companies do more with less as they navigate economic uncertainty.
Yet, I worry that all the rush and excitement to AI solutions is missing some key considerations.
If we ask AI to design a slide deck for an upcoming meeting, are we handing over sensitive pre-launch imagery, personally identifiable information (PII), and proprietary company information for an AI to catalogue, store, and use?
If we record our meetings on an app to transcribe meeting notes, are we violating state laws around recorded conversations and leaking sensitive information to an insecure platform?
Possibly.
Generally speaking, if the platform is free or cheap, it’s your data and behavior that is the value exchange.
In fact, I opened up a public privacy policy for a popular AI presentation tool recently and was alarmed by the implications of a few sections — sharing data for business gain, transferring data to countries with less stringent laws, referencing vague security measures, and asking users specifically to not share sensitive information.
Recently, I saw an article about a Disney employee who downloaded an AI app on GitHub, which contained malware that compromised his employer, job, personal data, finances, healthcare — his entire life.
What’s scary about a story like this is that it could be any of us just trying be efficient, improve our outcomes, or stay relevant in the AI age.
When was the last time we dug deeply into a privacy policy or checked online forums before downloading a fun app or two?
It’s important for us to remain educated and discerning about emerging tools while embracing their usefulness in transforming business operations.
Here are actions we’re taking to protect client intellectual property (IP) and data in the AI age:
Establishing data, confidentiality, and AI policies for consultants engaging in Statement Co.llab
Determining and clarifying appropriate use of AI in client contracts, services, and deliverables
Hosting onboarding and trainings to ensure that key policies are reviewed and understood
Reviewing privacy and security policies of AI tools to ensure that its secure and well-managed
Investing in enterprise tools that ensure a closed space with client security protocols and practices
Ensuring human oversight of sensitive information and final touches, leveraging AI to jumpstart the blank page
Educating our consultants and clients on the uses, best practices, and implications of AI
Fostering a culture of curiosity and experimentation with security and ethical awareness
Staying informed of evolving AI regulations and laws that impact sensitive areas of our consulting work
These steps aren't a one-time solution, but rather a foundational mindset for responsible AI navigation.
The speed of AI adoption today necessitates careful consideration of the risks introduced throughout the AI-assisted process.
While AI offers revolutionary capabilities, our enduring competitive advantage lies in uniquely human skills like ideation, storytelling, critical thinking, nuanced understanding, and contextual awareness. By staying informed and intentional about responsible AI use, we can benefit from its efficiencies while elevating the irreplaceable superpower of human creativity.
