In this week’s Newsletter we’re focusing on an ever more important topic.

The rapid adoption of AI in the workplace, and the BYOAI trend that’s increasing risks with the use of consumer grade, or Shadow AI tools.

Thanks to Andrew Moseley (AI New Zealand, AI for Business Advisor) for sharing the report and his insights on LinkedIn yesterday.

A recent survey from Microsoft and LinkedIn reveals exciting and concerning insights.

• On one hand more employees are discovering the benefits of using AI tools to augment their work.

• On the other hand employees feel the need to bring their own AI tools to work.

Raising concerns that employers are failing to provide adequate tools, or necessary AI skills training to manage and mitigate potential risks.

The "Bring Your Own AI" (BYOAI) trend, where employees use external AI tools for business purposes without official approval, poses significant risks to companies.

• Data security and privacy concerns

• Potential intellectual property and copyright violations

• Lack of control and oversight

• Compliance and regulatory risks

• Quality and reliability issues

• Increased vulnerability to cybersecurity threats.

BYOAI practices make it difficult for businesses to maintain control over the AI tools being used and the data being processed.

Unlike BYOD policies, which can be managed with mobile device management software, BYOAI tools are accessed via the internet, making it challenging to monitor and control their use.

What we recommend, and how we can help.

• Develop clear policies and guidelines for the use of AI tools, including a list of approved tools and their appropriate use cases.

• Invest in enterprise licenses for AI tools to ensure they meet your business security and compliance standards.

• Conduct regular AI audits to monitor and manage the use of AI within the company, identifying potential risks and addressing them proactively.

And most importantly…

• Engage your employees in AI tool selection, to ensure solutions are fit-for-purpose, aligned to the problems and tasks they want to leverage AI for.

• Provide training for employees on the responsible use of AI tools, emphasising the risks and best practices to minimise potential downsides.

Now, that’s Useful!

During August and September we’re hosting 10, full day, super-practical AI for Business events around Aotearoa.

You’ll learn the capabilities, best practices, tools and use cases you can leverage in your organisation. It’s an ideal opportunity to accelerate your AI journey.

$225 Early Bird tickets will go on sale in the first week of July. So please register your interest now as every event has limited capacity.

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