When you think of the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace, you might be picturing derelict buildings that used to be offices, robots ruling the earth and total economic collapse because AI has taken over every job, in every sector. It’s a scary thought. But we’re here to tell you that probably won’t happen – not anytime soon at least. So if that’s not the future of AI, then what is? Well, whether we like it or not, the rise of AI in the workplace will become more widespread, but humans will still need to captain the AI ship. It’s important for businesses to get ahead of the curve to address the risks and ethics AI brings to the workplace through an AI policy. So, to prepare you for the future, in this article we’ll go over what you should consider when creating an AI policy or using AI in the workplace.

AI should be used as a tool

AI should be looked at as a tool, just like a paintbrush or calculator – it can’t perform a task without human input. Within the workplace this can look like using it for idea generation, automation of routine tasks, and data analysis or providing insights. It’s completely up to you to decide how much AI use is too much, and what’s okay. Whatever you decide, make sure to include these limits in your policy.

AI is biased

Because AI is trained on human data, biases can exist, and like any new technology, as AI is further developed and refined, unintentional prejudice and misinformation will likely be stamped out – but this isn’t guaranteed. So how can you protect employees and the organisation from backlash when AI goes wrong? It’s a good idea to include this kind of information in your AI policy to ensure staff are aware and diligent about unintentional biases peeking through in AI and what is expected from them when using this technology.

AI isn’t 100 per cent accurate

AI often produces false information and presents it as fact, especially chatbots like Chat GPT, so it’s important your employees are aware of this and proceed with caution. When writing a policy, consider adding a point about ensuring all the information and data produced by AI is correct before using it in official documents and projects.

Intellectual property and sensitive information shouldn’t be put into AI

One of the most important considerations when using AI in your business is privacy and security – businesses should be cautious about inputting sensitive information or intellectual property into AI and additionally, ensure the AI system is secure. The last thing you want is to face a data breach. Additionally, the AI developer may have contingencies in place where they can use the information you’ve inputted in other ways even if it’s your intellectual property, so be extremely mindful of what information and content you’re feeding into AI. This should be included in your AI policy to ensure the safety of your business and staff.

Will we lose our jobs to AI?

In every technological revolution, unfortunately it’s a given that some jobs will be replaced. The main types of jobs that are likely to be impacted are admin tasks, data analysis, bookkeeping, and reporting. It might sound like doom and gloom, but our history books show this has happened before! Take bank tellers for example; before we had automated ATMs, we had people physically withdrawing out cash from a bank vault and handing it to us. We can expect something similar with AI. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. While some jobs will be replaced, AI will also pave the way for brand new jobs that don’t exist yet! Just like a maintenance technician for ATMs didn’t exist before ATMs, AI will allow new jobs to flourish! That’s why it’s essential to put AI policies into place now, to focus on accurate and safe implementation of AI into the workplace, so you can be prepared for a highly automated future.

We can help you make an AI policy

If you’re unsure about how to best implement AI polices in your workplace or would like assistance in creating a tailored AI policy for your employees, get in touch with enableHR. This easy intuitive software helps you ditch the paperwork and embrace automation so you can make your HR controlled, consistent and compliant. This means efficiency in things like sending your staff an AI policy or updating on workplace expectations. To set up great contracts, policies, and customise many parts of your HR – with outstanding employee self-service – talk to enableHR today.