AI Safety For Small Business
The rapid rise of AI in business sometimes evokes memories of the 1984 sci-fi classic The Terminator, and particularly its description of a technology that “can’t be reasoned with,” “can’t be bargained with,” and which “will not stop, ever” until it completes its mission.
We’re obviously a long way off from cyborgs, but all signs indicate that AI’s march forward will inevitably disrupt the way people work in our industry. This disruption will come − ready or not. Fostering a culture of adaptability will be important as we position our teams to capitalize on tomorrow’s opportunities. The good news is that, with appropriate safeguards in place, people can work in parallel with AI to radically increase productivity. Let’s discuss some steps you can take to keep people, processes and data safe as you consider AI use in your business.
AI: Amazing promise with potential pitfalls
You have likely already dipped your toe into applications like Chat GPT and Google Bard, and you’ve probably been amazed by the results. Leveraging sophisticated language models, these applications have an uncanny ability to understand user input and to generate responses that mimic human communication. End users have put these tools to work generating content, conducting research, designing graphics and even producing full application and website code.
The ChatGPTs of the world are undoubtedly marvels of engineering, but using these programs without restraint may imperil sensitive consumer and company data. Moreover, AI models are not an exact science, with research pointing to how outputs are often marred by programmer bias and inaccurate information. Finally, relying on AI-generated code without additional review can cause problems with your website or other digital real estate. Safe to say, it is wise to proceed with caution.
Cover your bases
So how then can you unleash AI’s power while maintaining your security posture? I wish I could say there was a silver bullet, but in reality, it requires a multi-prong security approach. Here are some areas to consider when developing a plan your business:
- Information classification and hierarchy: A great place for title agencies to begin is to build a classification hierarchy for the data held within your corporate ecosystem. Apart from our consideration of AI, a classification system like can be deeply important for risk management and creating customized data controls. Once you have this in place, it is much easier to instruct your team regarding the types of data that can be used within an AI system and what must be kept sequestered.
- End user education: Unless you have extensive experience with language models, it can be difficult to understand how AI applications work and how to use them safely. Seeking out resources and training can be an important step toward making the most of specific AI tools while still adhering to corporate policies and procedures.
- Incident response: This is a standard part of your typical cybersecurity plan. Designed to encompass all actions your organization will take in the event of data breach or other security problem, it is advisable to expand your incident response plan to also include AI. That way, you will be able to execute efficiently in the event of an issue and mitigate potential negative impacts.
- Compliance and regulations: Given the rapid rise of AI, it’s not surprising that lawmakers and regulators have lagged in their attempts to address the potential negative consequences of these new technologies. But you can bet regulation is coming.Considering the large volume of personal data title professionals deal with every day, it is enormously important to stay apprised of regulatory developments so you can respond appropriately and remain compliant.
AI will be back, but we can be ready
Easily one of the most memorable quotes from The Terminator comes when Arnold Schwarzenegger remarks in a complete deadpan, “I’ll be back.” This iconic line also describes where we currently are with the AI revolution. When ChatGPT was released on November 30, 2022, it was lauded as a revolution in the modern workforce. While some of that early hoopla has now died down, there is no doubt that the AI will come roaring back as it continues to integrate into our workflows. The only real question is whether we will be ready to deploy future iterations of this technology to maximize efficiency without sacrificing safety. By updating your security plan now, you will be better positioned to embrace AI advancements, ensuring a balance between technological progress and cybersecurity.
Tags: ai, business, cybersecurity