AI in the Workplace: Balancing Innovation with Security

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the biggest shift in business technology since the internet. Tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can draft emails, write code, and analyze data in seconds.

But there is a dark side. "Shadow AI"—employees using AI tools without IT knowledge or approval—is leading to massive data leaks.

The Data Leakage Risk

• Scenario: A lawyer copies a confidential contract into ChatGPT and asks, "Summarize this."
• The Risk: That contract is now uploaded to OpenCV's servers. It might be used to train the model. If someone else asks about similar contracts, the AI might regurgitate your confidential clauses.
• Impact: Breach of client confidentiality and potential loss of IP.

You Can't Ban It (And You Shouldn't)

Blocking OpenAI at the firewall is a losing battle. Employees will just use their phones. Instead, you need Governance.

Creating an AI Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

1. Define Green/Red Data: Explicitly state what can be put into public AI (marketing copy, generic emails) and what cannot (customer PII, financial data, passwords).
2. Use Enterprise Versions: Microsoft Copilot (Commercial) and ChatGPT Enterprise guarantee that your data is not used for training. It stays within your tenant. It costs money, but it buys privacy.
3. Fact-Checking: AI hallucinates. Make it policy that all AI output must be reviewed by a human before being sent to a client.

AI is a power tool. Used correctly, it builds. Used carelessly, it cuts.