Curious About AI? Here’s How to Start Smart
If your interest in AI has been stirred, you’re not alone!
Many member-based organizations are eager to explore the technology’s potential, but getting started safely requires a thoughtful and intentional approach.
Now, while specific usage guidelines vary from one organization to another, we come to you today with recommendations to help you build a strong, secure, and practical foundation for integrating AI tools.
1. Define Clear Goals
Know what you’re setting out to solve or improve.
- How do you want to use AI in your organization?
- What problems can it help you overcome?
2. Build a Shared Understanding
Before taking the plunge, you’ll want to familiarize yourself (and your team) with the basics of AI. Be open and transparent about your goals.
We suggest creating an AI Code of Conduct to guide your team’s adoption and use of AI-enabled tools.
3. Choose the Right Tools
Select platforms that genuinely meet your team’s needs. Don’t be fooled by buzzwords–a lot of companies like to boast about their AI, but you’ll want to take a minute to look into what they actually mean.
This also means reading the legalese in the terms and conditions. Look for answers to questions like:
- Who owns the data you feed it?
- Who owns the results?
- Can you delete your data from the system?
Wherever possible, you will likely want to use the paid version of these tools. Whichever tool you adopt, it should have a solid framework in place for protecting your Personally Identifiable Information (PII), as well as your company information (lparsons, 2025).
Keep in mind: When there’s no cost listed, the price is you. If a tool appears to be free, it may be collecting or using your data as compensation.
4. Start Small
Test new AI tools on low-risk projects before scaling them up. Even with thorough research, there’s always a chance that something is missed, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Watch for Bias
Stay aware of how datasets influence results and review them carefully. AI is excellent at spotting patterns, but there are often underlying factors that can influence its direction (Coffin, 2024). The more familiar you become with these influences, the easier it is to spot their effects and adjust.
6. Invest in Learning
As AI constantly evolves, so should your team. Empower them to improve and grow as much as possible.
As your team learns more, you can adjust your Code of Conduct to match (lparsons, 2025). AI is evolving quickly, so you want to be aware of how this will affect your rules.
7. Track Performance
Monitor performance, measure real outcomes, and optimize your processes as needed. If you find a tool isn’t working out, that’s ok–it just means you’re one step closer to finding the one that does!
Conclusion
Start small, stay curious, and keep refining your approach as the technology evolves. Using these guidelines, you’re now well on your way—so here’s to a smarter, more empowered AI journey ahead!
Works Cited
Coffin, B. (2024, February 21). Six Ethical Artificial Intelligence Principles for Your Code of Conduct. Ethisphere Magazine Website. https://magazine.ethisphere.com/six-ethical-artificial-intelligence-principles-for-your-code-of-conduct/
lparsons. (2025, June 26). Building a Responsible AI Framework: 5 Key Principles for Organizations – Professional & Executive Development | Harvard DCE. Professional & Executive Development | Harvard DCE. https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/building-a-responsible-ai-framework-5-key-principles-for-organizations/#What-Are-the-5-Key-Principles-of-Ethical-AI-for-Organizations
