Should You Have an AI Acceptable Use Policy?

YES! and read on for a draft policy you can use right now.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to dominate the tech news, many individuals and organizations are utilizing AI systems to create content, automate processes, and increase their productivity. However, few (if any!) organizations have bothered to established guidelines to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI technology. I will argue that nonprofits are making a double mistake here:

• Missing out on opportunities for successful AI adoption
• Inadvertently courting significant risks by not having an AI policy in place.

AI has the potential to bring unimaginable potential benefits, but also comes with inherent risks. AI-generated outputs may be subject to bias, inaccuracies, and misuse, both intentional and unintentional. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to establish clear policies for AI usage to address these concerns and ensure alignment with their mission, values, and objectives.

By providing guidelines for ethical and mission-aligned use, data protection and privacy, as well as promoting transparency and accountability, an AI Acceptable Use Policy helps to build trust among staff, volunteers, contractors, and external stakeholders. Furthermore, it encourages the development of training and awareness programs to ensure that all individuals who use AI systems on behalf of the organization are well-equipped to do so responsibly and ethically.

In the absence of a clear AI Acceptable Use Policy, organizations may face significant risks, including legal, financial, and reputational consequences. For instance, unintentional misuse of AI tools could result in the exposure of sensitive information or the dissemination of misleading or even offensive content.

The adoption of AI technology is happening NOW and organizations can no longer afford to ignore the opportunities and risks associated with this rapidly advancing technology. An AI Acceptable Use Policy is a vital tool for organizations to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI systems while minimizing potential harm.

I feel so strongly about the importance of this that I have taken the time to draft (with the help of AI, of course) a sample AI Acceptable Use Policy that I am making available below. Click the image to access the draft policy (a shared Google Doc) that you can copy or download for your own use.

I hope you find it helpful. I welcome any and all feedback, as always.