You probably have an employee guidebook that defines expectations for behavior, performance, dress code and more. Do you have a section for AI? AI governance means having guidelines for how employees interact with AI and leverage AI tools at work. AI can be a productivity multiplier, but how do you evaluate risk? What are some guardrails you can put up to minimize those risks? Take a safer approach to AI with these tips.
RECOGNIZE THE RISKS OF AI
What makes AI governance so important? You don’t want your data to end up in the wrong hands or your employees to make decisions based on misleading information. The information AI provides isn’t fact checked, and it’s not always clear where the information is coming from.
AI can’t think like a human. It only knows the information it has been trained with, so it can have biases that don’t align with your organizational values. Plus, it can be difficult to tell what is real and what is fake. Using AI generated information to make decisions could lead to something unethical or illegal.
ESTABLISH YOUR RISK TOLERANCE
Once you understand some of the risks of using AI, how much risk are you willing to accept? How do you weigh the positives of AI versus its risks? For example, a startup business might be willing to accept more risks than a well-established company because they don’t have as much intellectual property to lose or as many risk factors yet.
The number of AI tools out there is overwhelming, so it’s best to have a system that automates the threat detection process. There are software programs that can continuously monitor different trust metrics and restrict access to certain websites based on the level of risk you are willing to accept. This keeps people on your network from accessing AI tools that could be dangerous for your intellectual property, cybersecurity or other risk factors.
EDUCATE YOUR PEOPLE
Once you have some safeguards in place, how do you make sure everyone in your company is on the same page? Provide regular training opportunities for your employees and update them with the latest AI news. If people understand the potential scenarios they might encounter and the consequences of their actions, they can make safer decisions on behalf of the company. Make sure there’s enough detail that people can recognize the real-life scenarios they might encounter.
It also helps to have a list of AI resources people can use. If you have a database of approved AI resources, employees can access tools to help them be more efficient and remain confident they are working within the AI guidelines.
EVALUATE NEW AI TOOLS WITH YOUR TEAM
New AI tools are popping up every day. What if someone has a new tool they want to use? Who decides if it is okay to use? It doesn’t have to fall on a single person. It’s best to have an AI governance team that can evaluate new suggestions from different angles:
- Where is the software in its security lifecycle?
- Does it have SOC 2 Type 2 compliance standards?
- Does it use General Data Product Regulation (GDPR) parameters?
- Is it in the cloud or on-premises?
- Is it only learning from your data or everyone’s data?
- Does it propose a risk you are not willing to accept?
Any AI tool your employees want to use should go through the AI governance team first, so implement a process for submitting new ideas. When you can consult with your AI governance team to get perspectives from different areas of your business, you can make better decisions to manage risk and pursue new opportunities.
GRADUALLY IMPLEMENT NEW AI SOLUTIONS
Once you determine an AI tool is worth using, how do you safely and successfully implement the tool into your business processes? Start small! Test it with a small community to see how it works. Find out where the data it is learning from, and the information it is giving you, is stored. Is it encrypted at rest and in transit? When you start small, you can assess the safety of the AI tool with less risk.
RELY ON A PARTNER
If you still have questions about how to implement or evaluate AI solutions, we’re here to help! Whether it’s a generative AI software for manufacturing or a tool for improving your internal business processes, we’re willing to help you safely identify the best solution. Reach out to your Van Meter account manager or call 1-800-247-1410 to connect with a specialist who can help.
Five Technology Goals for Every Manufacturer In 2025
