Artificial intelligence (AI) continuously grows in popularity and relevancy as companies implement it in day-to-day functions. With no signs of stopping, business owners and employees must be aware of and prepared for whatever benefits and drawbacks await them. In the right hands, AI can be an incredible asset that boosts productivity and enables companies to serve their customers more efficiently. In the wrong hands, AI can be manipulated to help bad actors wreak havoc.
What are some common misunderstandings about AI?
Many common misconceptions fuel distrust that causes business owners to pause before incorporating AI. Understanding how its outputs can be impacted by positive or neutral intent is vital. Once you demystify what AI programs can and can't do, you can learn how to balance their risks and benefits.
Many AI myths exist because the concept is often misunderstood. Due to common depictions in TV shows and movies, many perceive AI as an all-powerful entity committed to taking jobs and conquering the world. Jason Monroe, Solution Consultant at Bit-Wizards, believes people hesitate to experiment with AI in their work and personal lives because of this negative portrayal.
"People are inherently apprehensive of new technology they don't understand," Monroe says. "Thankfully, any concerns of AI independently creating competition and threatening businesses are far from reality."
Despite what you may think, AI programs like ChatGPT:
- Can't function without human input
- Won't take over the world
- Are prone to making mistakes
- Don't have emotions or self-awareness
- Aren't inherently unethical
- Can't replace real people in jobs
- Are actually large language models (LLMs)
What are the benefits of AI?
Once you debunk popular myths and get answers to common AI questions, there's a vast world of benefits to discover. The possibilities are endless based on your goals and prompts, and the results can give you a competitive edge in your personal and professional life.
Chatbots offer benefits related to productivity and creativity, especially when it comes to content creation. You can ask a chatbot to help you write a wide variety of content, whether it's a social media post caption, a presentation outline, or anything in between. If you need to write a detailed email to a prospective client or a list of interview questions for potential new hires, AI can help you create and improve drafts.
When implemented in business functions outside content development, AI can provide a more holistic view of your operations while automating and shortening typically time-consuming processes. Programs like Microsoft Copilot can identify trends in large data sets, summarize lengthy copy, and catch you up on hours' worth of missed conversations and emails within minutes. Brian Schlechter, Director of IT at Bit-Wizards, says AI helps employees be more proactive than reactive overall.
"By automating more tedious processes, AI can free up your employees to do other things," Schlechter explains. "It can take on complicated tasks with a heuristic perspective that helps speed up productivity."
Does AI pose any risks?
Despite its perks, AI has various limitations and potential risks. Although AI is perceived as a perfect system that doesn't need maintenance, it must be constantly monitored and audited. AI will only work with human input, and the quality of its output heavily depends on the quality of the details and parameters it's given. Additionally, chatbots are known to "hallucinate" and provide inaccurate information. In any case, monitoring AI output and giving feedback is essential.
"Just because AI can write doesn't mean it's got it right," Monroe quips. "It's still a machine—it needs a human to give it data and make sure the output makes sense."
Additionally, not all AI programs are created equally. Major AI developers like OpenAI establish stopgaps to ensure their respective programs don't comply with malicious requests. If a program is developed without specific parameters related to ethics and values, Schlechter speculates it could miss negative indicators and fulfill hostile requests the developers may have failed to consider.
"Since we all use AI built by other people, we have to rely on the safeguards and values that they've built into it," Schlechter says. "If those values don't match what's expected, negative outcomes are entirely possible."
Hackers can use these limitations to their advantage in executing data breaches and other cyberattacks. In the wrong hands, even ethically developed AI programs can be manipulated with malicious intent. Instead of worrying that chatbots will attempt to bypass your company's cybersecurity measures, Monroe says business owners should be most concerned about hackers using AI to their advantage.
"Since AI always requires human interaction, it won't decide one day that it feels like breaking into your network," Monroe explains. "It's going to be used by a bad actor who wants to write code or create a virus to infiltrate your business."
Hackers can use AI to their advantage by:
How can I protect my business from AI security risks?
Just as there's no all-in-one solution to stop hackers from accessing your network, there's no foolproof protection method against bad actors who leverage AI. Despite this, you can still implement several measures to mitigate the overall risks that chatbots and those who misuse them may pose to your business.
1. Research your AI tool's privacy policy
Like other services and platforms, major AI providers have privacy policies for their tools. Additionally, privacy and security standards may vary between providers. The main concern for businesses is that some platforms may retain user information while others do not. Before using a program, review its privacy policy to ensure your company's information remains protected.
Regardless of a tool's privacy policy, avoid including private or proprietary details when interacting with an AI program. If an employee includes details about clients, other employees, or the company in prompts, that information could be leaked if the platform falls victim to a cyberattack. Even if they're protected, programs can sometimes include sensitive details in answers to other prompts.
2. Set user guidelines for your employees
Whether you have yet to implement AI in your business or want to expand it to other departments, ensure you establish clear guidelines for how employees can interact with it. By failing to develop and communicate policies to your team, you risk sharing sensitive information that may be stolen or leaked. Your employees must be informed of your company's AI procedures, reminded of policies periodically, and trained if necessary.
Here are some standard pointers that should be included in your company's AI policy:
- Never share personal information about employees or clients
- Do not include proprietary information about the business
- Always review the AI response's accuracy before using it
- Report any concerns with incorrect answers or other errors
3. Follow standard cybersecurity protocols
Even with widespread excitement over using AI, your business must remain vigilant. Ensure your company has a comprehensive plan to respond to AI-related and traditional threats. Cyberattacks that use AI to their advantage aren't always obvious, so your company's data is best protected by following consistent precautions. Your employees should be vigilant against any suspicious emails, links, and other resources, regardless of whether they think AI is involved.
Weighing the risks of AI against its benefits can be daunting, especially when considering the direct impacts on employee efficiency and data security. With Managed IT Services (MITS) from Bit-Wizards, your business can enjoy the benefits of AI while avoiding potential hazards. Our team takes a multilayered approach to security that protects your business from various threats. With better protections, we help your business reach its full adaptability, efficiency, and resiliency potential.
Ready to implement innovative, safe solutions for your company's IT? Contact us today.