A lot of the businesses we work with are experimenting with AI tools – drafting content, summarizing data, even building internal workflows. And understandably so: these tools are accessible, affordable, and increasingly powerful.
But we’re also seeing a familiar pattern emerge. AI is easy to use, and just as easy to misuse.
If you’re a business owner or decision-maker navigating this terrain, here are a few questions worth considering. These aren’t meant to scare you off. Rather, they’re designed to help you move forward with clarity, care, and intention.
1. Do you know where your inputs go?
Most public-facing AI tools store the text you input to help improve their models. That means when you paste draft language from a contract, a client email, or a pricing document into the chat window, you may be making that information part of someone else’s training data, possibly even your competitor’s.
Things to consider:
- Have you checked the tool’s terms of use?
- Are you using AI for content that includes private, sensitive, or strategic information?
- Do you need a different tool, something with clearer boundaries and better protections?
2. What does the tool assume, and who might it miss?
AI tools reflect the data they’re trained on. And much of that data comes from sources that include bias, stereotypes, and gaps in representation.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use AI. But it does mean you should use it with eyes wide open, especially when it comes to customer-facing language, hiring materials, or anything that could impact equity, fairness, or trust.
Things to consider:
- How does your team review AI-generated content before it goes public?
- Who’s responsible for ensuring the content aligns with your values and commitments?
- Is the tool helping you express your authentic business voice, or diluting it?
3. What would transparency look like in your business?
One of the more thought-provoking questions we’re hearing from clients lately is: Should we tell people we used AI to write this?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But it’s worth exploring. In some industries, transparency around AI use is quickly becoming a best practice. In others, it’s an opportunity to build trust by demonstrating how you’re using new tools thoughtfully.
Things to consider:
- Are there contexts where AI-generated work should be disclosed to your clients, partners, or customers?
- Could transparency about your AI use become a competitive advantage rather than a liability?
AI doesn’t require perfection. But it does require intention.
This isn’t about establishing rigid rules or stifling innovation. It’s about building some simple, durable guardrails around how your business uses these tools so that you’re not left scrambling later.
That might mean:
- Clarifying which tools your team is authorized to use
- Setting boundaries around sensitive information
- Developing thoughtful disclosure practices
- Bringing in legal expertise when you need help drafting policies or identifying potential risks
None of this has to be burdensome. It just has to be conscious.
Until next time, Fatimeh