6 things to look for when using AI-powered communication software

Generative AI tools are becoming easier and cheaper to access, with 35% of organizations already using AI and another 42% looking to add it in the future. 

• Why it matters: AI can meaningfully enhance operations — nearly 85% of executives say AI will help them gain a competitive advantage — but left unbridled, it also has the potential to create more of everything rather than the best versions of the right things.  

When it comes to internal communications, nowhere is this noise vs. nuance balance more important. Only 20% of employees strongly agree that their leaders communicate effectively, and leaders admit it’s a real challenge they face — both in knowing what staff and stakeholders value and communicating it in a concise way they’re willing to read. 

The right AI tools can improve both, but as you explore what’s out there, it’s also important to have an appreciation for the parts of generative AI that still need to improve and the markers of AI-powered software that deliver its value in a smart, safe, responsible way. 

Why you need AI guidelines

With many free generative AI tools offering access to basic versions, it can seem tempting to use those options. Why not if they save you money? But not investing in reputable, trustworthy AI platforms could cost you down the road for a variety of reasons:

• Privacy concerns: It’s paramount to know what any company does with the information it collects, processes, and produces content for. From a legal standpoint, privacy invasion is a real concern for those not going through a vetted AI platform. Only utilize AI tools that can walk you through how your data — and your clients’ data — will be used, stored, recycled, studied, and shared. You don’t want proprietary information getting shared on free, unprotected platforms. 

• Ethical issues: From using source content that they don’t have the rights for to algorithmic biases, end users need to thoroughly research and understand the implications of using free technologies versus those whose bottom line depends on getting it right. 

• Hacking capabilities: AI technologies are being called the “future of hacking” for a reason. Nefarious users can hijack AI technology to find vulnerabilities in your security measures or create deepfake data designed to mislead. Investing in reputable AI platforms helps protect you and other users while preventing headaches later. 

As free AI tools continue to pop up, remember the old adage — you get what you pay for. And if you’re not paying for it, you might not get the security measures, capabilities, and protections you need to keep your org moving forward and your data safe. 

6 things to look for when choosing an AI tool

It’s only with a straight-forward, ethical platform you can overcome AI ambiguity and feel confident in your tool’s security and privacy. Look for platforms that are: 

1. Secure: Enterprise-level safety is critical to keep your data safe. Risk mitigation tools — like data encryption, customer isolation, and data removal practices — should be at the forefront of any AI platform’s offerings, along with a team that monitors for risks. 

2. Private: Your data should be just that — yours. Platforms shouldn’t be using your inputs to train models or selling your data to third parties. 

3. Responsible: Machine learning algorithms can pull from a variety of online information sources. Ask where your AI platform draws from and if they are using ethical, reputable sources. 

4. Honest: If a company can’t — or won’t — explain how your data is used, stored, and recycled into any future machine learning algorithms, then chances are your data may surface in unexpected ways. Find out before committing to any AI platform. 

5. Collaborative: Communication takes a team. Not only do you want leading collaboration with technology, but you need the buy-in of your colleagues before communications go out.  Choose tools that consider the needs of all stakeholders in the process.

6. Always improving: Our world is not standing still. The best tools out there are continuing to innovate and advance. Choose AI tools that carry you with them as they bring increasingly advanced techniques to market.

The bottom line: Good AI needs to happen in a contained space with guardrails. Without those precautions, you’re exposing yourself to data breaches, inaccurate information, and ethical quandaries. 

How 500+ organizations safely use AI with Axios HQ

Axios HQ’s AI-powered software helps harness the productivity boost of AI with the necessary guardrails orgs need to combat sticky issues:

• Axios HQ does NOT allow OpenAI to train its technology using your content. 

• Axios HQ features will never surface details to someone in your org who doesn’t already have access to them.

• Axios HQ has an extensive and exclusive dataset used to train our models, built on best-practice communications from Axios — the organization that created Smart Brevity.

Go deeper: Axios HQ’s new AI features elevate your internal communications