Responsible AI for Small Businesses

AI should make your business more capable, not less trustworthy. Responsible AI begins with treating customer relationships and private information with care.

Protect sensitive information. Do not paste personal identifiers, financial data, protected health information, or confidential client materials into general AI tools unless your use is authorized and appropriate safeguards are in place.

Verify before publishing. AI can produce convincing but incorrect details. Double-check names, dates, product descriptions, sources, and claims.

Respect creativity and consent. Do not use someone else's face, voice, or copyrighted work without appropriate rights. Never create fake reviews or imply someone endorsed a product when they did not.

Keep a human in charge. Provide an easy way for customers to reach a real person and review high-impact decisions rather than delegating them blindly.

Use AI transparently. Explain when customers are speaking to an AI assistant if that information matters to their understanding or choices.

Your next move: Write a one-page AI-use policy covering approved tools, data privacy, fact-checking, and who reviews content before it goes live. Requirements vary by industry and jurisdiction.