The risk of BYOAI! - Core Team One
BYOAI stands for “Bring Your Own AI”. It’s a growing trend where employees or departments use AI tools without IT or security support – a bit like Shadow IT. Whilst AI is helping organisations improve productivity, business owners should be aware of the risk of BYOAI. Lets review. AI usage in business is growing rapidly and was unheard of until quite recently. Generative AI is a form of artificial intelligence which uses algorithms to create new content and re-write existing content. Businesses are already using it for various tasks like summarising large content, compiling meeting minutes and actions, adjusting text to appeal to different readers, and streamlining mundane and repetitive tasks to increase productivity.
Understanding the Risks of BYOAI
Some businesses have been early adopters, having worked out where AI can improve their business functions, and already have it in the hands off the appropriate end-users. However, many businesses don’t really understand it yet, and are more fearful of implementations.
Generative AI has many possibilities and opportunities for businesses of all sizes – but not without its risks. AI is not currently subject to much specific legislation in the UK. AI regulation from the UK’s Government so far has been largely a hands-off approach.
However, the use of generative AI does blend into other areas of law and regulation, not least, intellectual property and data protection. Put simply – it's quite easy to feed private and confidential information into a generative AI tool and lose control of that data. Things like PII (personally identifiable information) and IP (intellectual property) could easily be added to the AI’s dataset for training and reuse.
Corporate AI vs Open AI Models
Corporate AI, like Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT Enterprise, is designed specifically for business environments. These AI solutions are integrated into enterprise software suites, providing tools for productivity, collaboration, and data analysis. They offer enhanced security, compliance features, and customization options to meet the specific needs of organizations.
On the other hand, open AI models like ChatGPT are generally available to the public and can be used for a wide range of applications, from casual conversation to creative writing and coding assistance. While they are versatile and accessible, they may not offer the same level of security, compliance, and integration features as corporate AI solutions. Open AI models are often used by individuals and smaller businesses for general-purpose tasks and learning.
Mitigating the Risks
Whilst business are slow to take up corporate forms of AI, many end users are well aware of how it can help speed up processes, improve quality of output, and make them much more efficient individuals. Care and due diligence must be exercised when using Generative AI to avoid the risks associated with its use including those relating to the misuse of personal data and confidential information; intellectual property infringement and ownership; accuracy; misinformation; disinformation; and discrimination.
Step 1 – get an AI Policy. An AI policy is essential for businesses to ensure the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence technologies. It helps establish guidelines for how AI should be implemented, managed, and monitored within the organization. This includes addressing issues such as data privacy, security, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
You may decide to outlaw Open AI to negate the risk of BYOAI, or wrap some management and procedure around it. Either way, by having a clear AI policy, businesses can mitigate risks associated with AI deployment, such as bias, discrimination, and unintended consequences, while promoting transparency and accountability.
If you want to remove the risk of BYOAI, and you already use the Microsoft 365 platform, then deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot. Put AI at your end users' fingertips in a controlled manner in line with your business objectives, instead of leaving things to chance.
CTO can help you address your Data Protection and get Copilot deployed inside your Microsoft tenancy in as little as 1 week! We can take you through Microsoft’s Baseline steps (Audit & Security, DLP, IAM, Data sensitivity and Policies) and get your business AI journey started. If you’d like to talk to us about Copilot for Microsoft 365, please schedule a Teams meeting below.
Generative AI is an emerging technology that is in a rapid and constant state of flux. So too is its use in business. Step 1 – get an AI Policy. An AI policy is essential for businesses to ensure the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence technologies. It helps establish guidelines for how AI should be implemented, managed, and monitored within the organization. This includes addressing issues such as data privacy, security, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
If you’d like to talk to us about Copilot for Microsoft 365, please schedule a Teams meeting below.
