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It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of AI. The promise is real: faster processes, fewer errors, lower costs, more insights. Who wouldn’t want that?
But here’s what I see over and over again in mid-sized, scaling companies:
Someone installs ChatGPT.
Then someone else connects it to Slack.
Then a team starts experimenting with Zapier, or NotebookLM, or a browser plug-in that claims to do everything from write your emails to summarize your meetings.
And before you know it, your AI footprint has spread faster than a virus, and you are wondering if you should quarantine the entire team.
Not because your people are doing anything wrong. Because no one told them what right looks like.
AI has entered the chat, whether you’re ready or not
Eliminating AI use is not an option, but you can control it – with an AI governance and use policy designed around your business goals and values.
This gives your team a clear, confident framework for what’s okay, what’s not, and what’s still being figured out.
Think of it like giving your employees a company credit card. You wouldn’t just hand it out and say, “Go experiment.” You’d set some rules. Some guidelines. You’d make sure everyone was aligned on what “good use” looks like, and what to avoid.
Here’s what a good AI use policy should do:
- Define approved tools and use cases. Not every AI tool is right for your business or your data. Be specific.
- Establish clear boundaries. What’s off-limits? Where do employees need approval? What types of data are never to be shared?
- Define roles and responsibilities. Who owns AI implementation? Who reviews new tools? Who trains the team?
- Reinforce your values. If you claim to be a human-centered company, your AI use should reflect that. (If not, your employees will notice—and so will your customers.)
- Make it real. Don’t write a 20-page PDF no one will read. Make it simple, usable, and reviewed regularly.
- Ensure data is clean. Ensure the data is accurate, consistent, well-structured, and free from errors, duplicates, missing values, irrelevant information, and formatting inconsistencies.
You don’t need to build AI governance from scratch.
When I work with clients on AI strategy, governance is baked into every engagement. We build your usage policy in real-time, based on what your teams are already doing (and what they should stop doing).
You’ll walk away with a living document that helps you implement AI with intent – confidence, not chaos.
Make AI part of how you lead.
If you’re experimenting with AI across your organization but don’t yet have a governance and use policy in place, let’s talk. I can help you build the guardrails, align your team, and scale with intent.
Let’s talk about what’s going on in your business: schedule a 30-minute call
