AI is built into almost every technology solution we use today. Even solutions that are not billed as “powered-by-AI” have some elements of it embedded somewhere within their design. As AI becomes more mainstream, teams are asking for more and more AI augmentation in every solution they use.
So why are Legal and InfoSec leaders pumping the breaks on adopting AI?
End users expect AI augmentation in every aspect of technology today. They rely on the efficiency AI provides and experience a new level of productivity because of it. But there’s a disconnect between teams who use AI daily and the Legal and InfoSec teams who see AI as a risk that is not worth taking. These two sides of the company are moving at drastically different speeds when it comes to AI implementation.
When Legal stifles the use of cutting-edge AI, it can blunt the effectiveness of software solutions and leave the other teams hanging. In order to get the full experience out of software, AI must be included.
The risk of just saying “no”
Legal and InfoSec have put a blanket ban on AI technology without fully understanding the business impact or use case. But operators and business units who want to use generative AI tools will find a way.
This disconnect could lead to “shadow IT,” where employees use unapproved tools anyway. This happened a few years ago when SaaS tools debuted on the market. Many Legal teams were cautious about putting data in The Cloud and refused to approve certain tools. In practice, teams downloaded the tools anyway, sometimes using their personal funds to pay for their use on computers and phones.
Without trying to understand the use case for AI tools, Legal risks frustrating other colleagues. Undoubtedly, they are watching their kids use AI tools to write papers at home without consequences. They clearly see the benefits of AI solutions and how they could increase productivity and efficiency in the workplace.
AI governance is essential
This disconnect is an unspoken issue within enterprise business. In order to begin solving this problem, it must be aired between all teams involved. AI governance plays an important role in this conversation and the resolution of the problem. With a strong AI policy and assessment based on real-life business applications, each AI solution can be evaluated for its risks and rewards.
There is often an education gap where Legal and InfoSec may not fully understand the technologies they are being asked to approve. Without education about the business use cases, how much risk is involved, and the potential ROI, these teams cannot approve these solutions in good confidence. While implementing AI solutions may involve a nominal bit of risk, the rewards could be equal to billions of dollars in cost optimization.
Creating new AI evaluation and adoption processes
Collaboration is the key to solving this problem and ensuring that teams across your entire enterprise have access to the technology they need. Creating centralized visibility and a formalized process is essential to bridging the gap between business needs and legal concerns.
Move away from siloed business units and create an AI governance committee comprised of employees from every team. This committee should include leaders from each business unit, as well as those who use AI and technology day to day. These employees can present the benefits of using transformative AI solutions within their specific business use case. This committee will ensure that AI solutions are reviewed in a formalized process to understand business impacts, ROI, and potential risks.
From there, Legal can decide whether or not the solution proves too risky for their environment. It is essential that they listen to the use case and then evaluate each solution, instead of issuing a blanket moratorium on AI technology.
Innovate with intention
It’s time to rethink your approach to AI governance and create better communication channels within your enterprise. Once all teams start to work together across your organization, it will open up new avenues for collaboration and innovation.
Don’t dismiss AI solutions simply because there’s a risk involved. Instead, move forward with the intention to responsibly integrate AI into your operations and improve your business outcomes.
To learn more about leveraging the power of AI to become more productive, create more opportunities, and improve your bottom line, reach out to the team at Terzo for a free consultation.
