How Massachusetts Businesses Can Use AI Safely, Effectively, and Ethically

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way businesses operate. From healthcare to finance to engineering, AI integration is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, with this AI transformation comes a responsibility to use AI safely, effectively, and ethically. Let’s explore how Massachusetts businesses can achieve this.

AI Transformation in Massachusetts Businesses

AI is a bit of a buzzword, and even more of a misnomer. A decade or two ago, the concept of AI was, more or less, sentient robots. Think Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons, or Jarvis from Iron Man. Of course, over the last several years, we’ve sort of seen personal digital assistants emerge that are sort of like Jarvis, with Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, and others like them. These digital assistants are handy and serve quite a range of functions, but they don’t really learn. They aren’t YOUR assistant. Everyone who has an Alexa device gets a pretty similar experience, minus Alexa having access to your Amazon shopping behavior and a few other things like that. These systems aren’t intelligent on their own, just intelligently presented.

So where does that put modern AI, such as ChatGPT and the slew of other AI technologies that have exploded over the last year or two?

There are still limits to these tools, and each AI platform will have its own specialties and use cases—from ChatGPT helping you compose text to Google Bard helping you get better search results and answers, to Adobe’s generative AI letting you replace backgrounds out of photos. All of these tools are extremely powerful, and according to the brochure, getting smarter and better all the time.

This might sound like a negative introduction to artificial intelligence—like recent breakthrough technologies, there seems to be a strange culture around AI that either gets you extremely excited about its capabilities, or very skeptical about how people will end up using it. 

Just look at cryptocurrencies and NFTs over the last few years. Both became huge practically overnight, and more or less fizzled out as the culture behind these very interesting and capable technologies sort of exposed problems and shortcomings. Lots of folks made money and laughed their way to the bank, while everyone else basically got burnt out in the process. 

AI has that same taste, and grifters and early adopters alike are finding ways to exploit AI to serve them, often without thinking about the consequences. That’s why safety and efficacy is important to think about when it comes to these new technologies. There are a lot of ways your business can actually utilize these tools and get fantastic results, but there are definitely limits to what you can and should do.

With all that out of the way, AI is a powerful tool that can drive growth and innovation. Massachusetts businesses are at the forefront of this AI transformation, leveraging AI to improve customer service, streamline operations, and make data-driven decisions.

For instance, AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that humans might miss. This can help businesses predict customer behavior, optimize supply chains, and even detect fraud. Moreover, AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more strategic work.

However, as we mentioned, AI integration is not without its challenges. Businesses must navigate issues related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, and job displacement. Therefore, it's crucial for Massachusetts businesses to use AI safely, effectively, and ethically.

Using AI Safely

Safety should be a top priority when integrating AI into business operations. This means ensuring that AI systems are reliable and that they don't pose a risk to customers or employees.

One way to achieve this is by conducting thorough testing before deploying AI systems. This can help identify any potential issues or vulnerabilities. Additionally, businesses should have a contingency plan in place in case an AI system fails or behaves unexpectedly.

Right now, the biggest consideration is understanding what happens with the information you provide to an AI. This can mean either what you log in and ask ChatGPT, or if you implement an on-premise AI or software that has AI capabilities to learn and index your business data. You don’t want to provide sensitive information to something that may use it, store it, or regurgitate it publicly. 

Secondly, this technology is still emerging and we’re a ways away from official laws and compliance standards being adopted and fully fleshed out; but it’s going to happen eventually. That means you’ll want to stay in the know to understand what you are allowed to do with the stuff an AI produces for you. For instance, the massive writers guild strikes that recently ended struck an agreement that guardrails against the use of AI for screenplays. It’s very likely that industries will formulate their own rules and regulations, and Massachusetts will likely be one of the earliest states to formulate guidelines before anything happens at the federal level.

Using AI Effectively

To use AI effectively, businesses need to understand its capabilities and limitations. This requires ongoing education and training.

Businesses should also be strategic about where they implement AI. Not every task or process will benefit from AI integration. Businesses should focus on areas where AI can add the most value, such as data analysis or customer service.

Furthermore, businesses should continually monitor and evaluate their AI systems. This can help them identify areas for improvement and ensure that they're getting the most out of their AI investment.

Using AI Ethically

Ethical considerations are paramount when using AI. This includes respecting data privacy, avoiding algorithmic bias, and mitigating job displacement.

To respect data privacy, businesses should only collect and use data in a way that is transparent and consensual. They should also take steps to secure data and protect it from unauthorized access.

To avoid algorithmic bias, businesses should ensure that their AI systems are trained on diverse and representative data. They should also regularly audit their AI systems to detect and correct any bias.

To mitigate job displacement, businesses should aim to use AI to augment human work, not replace it. They should also provide training and reskilling opportunities for employees whose jobs may be affected by AI.

Let’s Talk About Automating Your Business with Modern Technology Solutions

AI offers immense potential for Massachusetts businesses. However, this potential can only be realized if AI is used safely, effectively, and ethically. By taking these considerations into account, Massachusetts businesses can lead the way in responsible AI integration. 

When it comes to streamlining your business, Datalyst offers a wide variety of ways to reduce your overhead, speed up workflows, and enhance productivity with technology. If you are looking for a technology partner who stays up to date with modern business solutions and can help your business get more done while dealing with fewer headaches and issues, give us a call today at (774) 213-9701.