Using Artificial Intelligence Intelligently

For years now, artificial intelligence (AI) has powered many of the tools we use daily-such as email, spam filters, and GPS navigation-and you likely never noticed.

But with the recent advent of generative AI (AI designed to create content), AI is more frequently being adopted for everyday business and personal uses. While AI can be a helpful tool, it is important to remember that AI is not infallible. Here are some simple, practical tips to help you use AI tools safely and confidently.

Accuracy – AI is helping to make incredible advancements in many industries, but it does make mistakes. It can misinterpret context and give outdated advice. It also sometimes “hallucinates,” meaning it can make up facts, names, or sources.

TIP: Be aware that AI can sound confident even when it is wrong. Always verify information provided by AI and use trusted sources (like government websites or professional organizations) to confirm valuable information.

Information – AI will often collect and store information that you provide. This means any information you share could be used to train the AI model and could wind up in the wrong hands. Your information could also be used in content generated by other users.

TIP: Carefully review the terms and conditions to make sure you understand how your information will be used, including the ownership of your information and the content that is generated, whether your information will be used to train the model or create content for other users, and how your personal information will be protected.

Security – Like any other internet connected tool, AI can be vulnerable to hacking or phishing.

TIP: Use multi-factor authentication, keep your software up-to-date, and avoid clicking on suspicious links.

Appropriate Uses – AI is not good at everything. It does not understand context, emotions, relationships, or ethics the way humans do. It is best used for brainstorming, organizing, and automating tasks, and should not be used as a substitute for human decision-making.

TIP: Use AI as a helper to gather facts and summarize information but make the final decision yourself. This is especially important when it comes to sensitive issues like health, finances, and relationships.

Bottom Line – AI can be a powerful tool, but like any tool it needs skilled human hands to work properly. When using AI, always stay informed and cautious and think critically about the information it provides.