How to Use AI in Business Without Exposing Your Data

Businesses can use AI more responsibly by managing privacy and security risks, keeping people involved in decisions, and checking how employees and third-party vendors use AI. AI governance and data privacy professional Shayne Adler shares practical considerations on The Elisha Show with host Amb. Elisha Arowojobe, including steps startups and small businesses can take to assess their readiness.

Key takeaways

• AI may be used in everyday business operations even when a company has not officially approved it, so businesses need to understand how it is being used.
• Human oversight matters when AI is used for business decisions or deliverables.
• Encryption, multi-factor authentication, and employee training can help businesses prevent data breaches.
• Third-party vendors can introduce security risks that businesses need to consider.
• AI governance and data privacy require ongoing attention, not just a one-time checklist.

How can a business use AI while protecting customer data?

A business can use AI more responsibly by addressing privacy and security as part of its AI governance. That means paying attention to how AI is used, protecting information, and involving people in decisions and deliverables.

Start by finding out whether employees are using AI through personal accounts, even if the business has not formally approved AI use. This can reveal a gap between company practice and actual use. Security measures such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, along with employee training, are practical parts of preventing data breaches.

Why does human oversight matter when businesses use AI?

Human oversight matters because AI may be used to produce business deliverables or support decisions, and businesses need people involved in those uses. It is one of the considerations Adler highlights for responsible AI governance.

Rather than treating an AI-generated deliverable or decision as a finished result on its own, businesses should keep human oversight in the process. The specific form of that oversight will depend on how the business uses AI; the key point is not to remove people from the process.

What security risks should businesses check before using AI?

Businesses should consider data breaches, privacy risks, costly mistakes, and risks connected to third-party vendors. Employees’ use of personal AI accounts is another area to examine, because AI can enter everyday operations without formal company approval.

Reviewing vendor relationships is part of managing the risk: a third party can become an unexpected source of security exposure. Businesses can also consider whether encryption, multi-factor authentication, and employee training are part of their approach to preventing data breaches.

How can a small business assess its AI governance readiness?

A small business can begin by assessing its AI governance and data privacy readiness, then continue to review those areas over time. Adler’s discussion emphasizes that AI compliance needs ongoing attention rather than a one-time checklist.

A useful starting point is to consider how AI is being used, whether employees use personal accounts, how human oversight works, and whether cybersecurity and vendor risks are being addressed. The Elisha Show Resource Hub may feature Shayne Adler and her free AI governance and data privacy risk assessment, which businesses can check for as a resource.

About Shayne Adler

Shayne Adler is an AI governance and data privacy professional. Her experience spans law, nonprofit compliance, and technology, and she helps startups and small businesses navigate data privacy and AI governance.

Frequently asked questions

Can employees use personal AI accounts for work?

Employees may use personal AI accounts even when a business has not officially approved AI use. Businesses should find out whether this is happening as part of understanding how AI is used in their operations and managing data privacy risks.

How can businesses help prevent AI-related data breaches?

Encryption, multi-factor authentication, and employee training are practical measures businesses can use to help prevent data breaches. They are part of a broader approach to managing cybersecurity and privacy risks when AI is used at work.

Why should a business review its AI vendors?

Third-party vendors can become an unexpected source of security risks. Considering vendors as part of AI governance helps a business account for risks beyond its own employees’ use of AI.

Is an AI compliance checklist enough for a business?

No. AI compliance requires continuous attention rather than a one-time checklist. Businesses need to keep considering how AI is being used and whether their privacy, security, oversight, and vendor practices address the risks.

Listen to the full conversation with Shayne Adler on The Elisha Show for more about AI governance, data privacy, and business readiness.