The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming widespread across most industries, with different companies advertising their own AI and how it will help you run your business better. Sometimes, these claims are true, and should be considered for using in your place of business. However, all AI should be approached with appropriate caution, especially when used for a place of business. Thankfully, many industries are beginning to release information on what guidelines should be put in place to keep company and customer data secure and to prevent misuse.
However, because AI being widely available to the public is still relatively new, these guidelines are still developing and will likely continue to change for years to come. Some industries won’t even mention AI within guidelines for years, in which case you will find best practices as recommended by experts listed below instead.
Healthcare
Currently, there is no specific regulation for the healthcare industry’s utilization of AI, but because of HIPAA regulations, AI usage must follow certain rules regardless. Often, AI is used to handle sensitive data, so healthcare businesses need to be careful to not break HIPAA rules. In order for AI to work the way it’s supposed to, the applications need access to massive amounts of information for training, so data has to be de-identified in order to protect patients’ privacy. Staying HIPAA compliant while utilizing AI requires continuous adaptation between healthcare organizations and AI developers. If you choose to use an AI application in your business, it will be up to you to work with the developers and your own employees to keep AI usage HIPAA compliant. Vendors should be able to actively work to meet the guidelines required by your organization, but stay vigilant and make sure your team does as well.
Legal Firm
It is not recommended by experts to use AI for legal work. If you are going to use AI for your law firm, you can use it for proofreading, organizing thoughts (but not private information), or summarizing legal documents into plain English — although AI can often be wrong, especially with more complicated legal topics, so this must be done with caution. Some courts, like Judge Brantley Starr of Dallas, TX, require all parties to confirm that AI has not been used or, if it has, that the work has been checked by humans for accuracy. Texas state courts are currently working on setting more firm policies, but until those policies are in place, you can stick to the following list of standards for your firm’s AI use.
- Protect the privacy of your clients and yourself.
- Verify all information, as AI often presents misinformation or biases as fact.
- Consult a professional if you must use AI to write documents.
Non-Profit Organizations
Currently there are no specific AI regulations aimed at non-profits, but as with other applications, AI usage must adhere to all existing laws in place, like data privacy laws, ethical guidelines, and transparency regulations. Staying accountable to yourself, your stakeholders, and those who benefit from your non-profit by disclosing when and how AI is being used will help you responsibly use AI. Of course, also double check all information for factual accuracy, as AI is known to make mistakes.
CPA Firms
There are many professional liability risks to using AI as a CPA firm between all of the financial and personal information a firm handles for clients and employees. AI can be used by CPAs to review documents and extract data, detect fraud, create client reports, and forecast future cash flow trends. While there are currently no formal guidelines in place, there are recommended best practices, as listed below.
- Implement security protocols to protect data.
- Verify all AI outputs before using the information or giving it to clients.
- Inform clients how AI is being used and how it benefits them.
Note: These guidelines are accurate as of Tuesday, November 19, 2024. They may not be the most up-to-date guidelines available after this date.
