The 10 Golden Rules for Using AI in Your Company
If you’re introducing AI in your company, spend some time deliberating how to make sure you get the most benefits without the pitfalls with these simple rules.
AI tools can boost productivity, creativity, and efficiency in your business. But they also carry risks if done without due considerations. Above all, adopting AI shouldn’t be chaos…
Whether you’re just starting to experiment with AI, or have a defined plan on becoming an AI-first organisation, it’s important to set clear rules for AI use in your teams.
Here are my 10 Golden Rules that will help you get the most out of AI in your business:
1️⃣ Define Clear Goals
Don’t adopt AI just because it’s trendy. Be specific about what you want it to do.
Why it matters: Setting clear goals ensures AI initiatives align with business objectives, preventing wasted resources on trendy but irrelevant applications.
Examples: Using AI to automate customer support reduces response times and frees up staff; applying AI to forecast sales helps optimize inventory.
Pro tip: Start by identifying specific pain points or opportunities where AI can add measurable value.
2️⃣ Start Small and Test
Pick one use case first. Pilot it. Measure the impact. This reduces risk and helps you learn before expanding.
Why it matters: Piloting AI in a controlled environment reduces risk and provides valuable insights before scaling.
Examples: Test a series of customer research ChatGPT prompts with a small customer segment before full deployment; pilot AI-driven marketing campaigns on a limited budget.
Pro tip: Use metrics to measure impact and learn quickly to iterate or pivot your approach.
3️⃣ Show, Don’t Tell
Show your staff a few simple use cases on how YOU are using AI, and the benefits you are achieving.
Why it matters: Investing time demonstrating AI benefits shows your staff you are serious about AI and you are championing them using it. It builds staff buy-in and reduces resistance to adoption.
Examples: Share success stories of AI automating routine tasks; show how AI insights improved decision-making.
Pro tip: Host live demos or workshops to engage employees and encourage hands-on experience.
4️⃣ Encourage Feedback and Ideas
Create an environment where employees can report issues and suggest ideas. Use their insights and tactical learnings to refine your AI strategy.
Why it matters: Employee insights can uncover practical challenges and innovative uses of AI that you as owner or management may not be aware of.
Examples: Create a feedback channel for AI tool users; hold brainstorming sessions to gather ideas.
Pro tip: Gamify or recognize and reward valuable contributions to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
5️⃣ Keep Private Data Private
Make sure you understand and follow data privacy laws. Don’t share info with AI tools that are sensitive in nature like customer data, which may be stored or used for training.
Why it matters: Protecting sensitive data prevents legal issues and maintains employee and customer trust.
Examples: Avoid inputting sensitive or personal info into public AI tools; use secure platforms for sensitive data.
Pro tip: Tell your staff to use the sunshine test - would your employer, colleagues or customers approve of specific data being used by AI tools if it came to light? If the answer is no, don’t use it!
6️⃣ Fact-Check Outputs
AI can produce wrong or biased answers. Always review what it generates before you use it, for example sending it to customers or publishing an article.
Why it matters: AI can generate incorrect or biased information, which can harm the credibility of what the content was intended for.
Examples: Verify AI-generated reports before sharing with clients; review marketing content for accuracy.
Pro tip: Establish a review process involving subject matter experts to validate AI outputs. Systems are the only way AI hallucinations can be stopped over the long run.
7️⃣ Be Transparent with Your Stakeholders
If AI is part of your service (for example a chatbot), tell users. It builds trust and manages expectations.
Why it matters: Transparency builds trust and sets realistic expectations about AI capabilities.
Examples: Inform customers when interacting with AI chatbots; disclose AI use in content creation.
Pro tip: Don’t try to be cute - just disclose when you use AI. It may actually help your brand position itself as innovative and ahead of the game!
8️⃣ Respect Copyrighted Materials
Watch for potential copyright violations, especially in images and written content. Only use AI outputs you have the rights to.
Why it matters: Using copyrighted content without permission can lead to legal penalties and reputational damage.
Examples: Avoid using AI-generated images that replicate copyrighted art; verify content originality.
Pro tip: Use AI tools that provide licensing information and keep records of content sources (i.e. from the AI output sources section).
9️⃣ Never Just Copy & Paste
AI outputs are a first draft. Always review, adapt, and improve them before sending or publishing.
Why it matters: AI outputs are drafts that need human refinement to ensure quality and brand alignment.
Examples: Edit AI-generated emails to match company tone; customize AI-written articles before publishing.
Pro tip: Develop style guides for AI content and train staff on how to quickly edit drafts.
🔟 Keep Humans in the Loop
AI is a helper, not a replacement for judgment. Make sure someone reviews decisions in sensitive areas (e.g. HR, customer disputes).
Why it matters: Human oversight prevents errors and ensures ethical decision-making in sensitive areas. People will continue to put a premium on human-made decisions for the foreseeable future.
Examples: Have HR review AI recommendations on hiring; involve managers in customer dispute resolutions.
Pro tip: Define clear roles and responsibilities for AI use within your team. Don’t let AI proliferate without oversight!
AI is a powerful tool for modern businesses, but its success depends on thoughtful, responsible ground rules. With the right approach, AI can help your business grow faster and ‘smarter’.
How is your team using AI? What rules have you put in place?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!