Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from experimentation to everyday business use in just a few short years. Across industries, organizations are exploring how AI can improve efficiency, support decision-making, and unlock new opportunities. But the rapid pace of adoption also raises important questions and risks.
During a recent webinar, AI’s Balancing Act: Harnessing Power While Managing Risks, presented by CBIZ and Troutman Pepper Locke, specialists across the technology field discussed how organizations can begin using AI effectively while managing the risks that come with it.
Below are several key insights from the discussion, facilitated by Troutman Pepper Locke Partner Nicholas Stawasz.
AI Is More Than a Search Tool
One of the most important mindset shifts for organizations adopting AI is understanding how it differs from traditional search technologies.
Bruce Constantine, founder of multiple AI startups and former executive at Wayfair, McKinsey, and other leading organizations, refers to AI as a “quantum platform that cannot teach without learning, and cannot learn without teaching. It’s a two-way training machine, wherein users ask questions, reveal their own knowledge and information gaps, and get the insights needed to fill those gaps in return.”
“AI is a very different platform than any we’ve dealt with before, due to its fundamentally extractive nature,” says Bruce. “It references billions of sources, synthesizes the information most relevant to you, and provides context to deliver much more insightful input than any other search technology.”
How Businesses Can Start Leveraging AI
Don’t Let Fear Stall Adoption
For many organizations, the biggest hurdle is getting comfortable with the idea that the benefits of rapid AI innovation outweigh the potential risks. Executives often find themselves caught between two competing concerns:
Fear of messing up (FOMU): Overreliance on AI without proper fact-checking and oversight could create operational, legal, or reputational risks.
Align AI Initiatives With Business Objectives
David Mustin, CBIZ Vice President and Managing Director of Strategic IT Consulting, recommends lining AI up with business objectives. Organizations see the most value when initiatives align with clear business goals.
Leaders should identify practical use cases that support strategic priorities, such as:
- Increasing revenue or improving customer engagement
- Streamlining finance or operational processes
- Enhancing sales insights and forecasting
- Improving supply chain visibility
- Reducing time spent on manual or repetitive tasks
Focusing on targeted use cases can help organizations build AI initiatives that create measurable value.
Establish Guardrails and Training
Organizations also need to structure how employees use AI. Most are already leveraging the technology, so businesses must guide their people in doing so safely and successfully.
Effective AI adoption should include:
- Clear policies and guardrails around acceptable use
- Training programs to help employees understand capabilities and limitations
- Guidance on data security and privacy considerations
- Ongoing evaluation of AI outputs to avoid errors or “hallucinations”
Change management is also critical. Employees will vary widely in their comfort level with new technology, so organizations should provide support that helps teams build confidence and skills over time.
Manage the Risks of AI
Alongside its potential benefits, AI introduces new risks that organizations must manage carefully. These may include:
- Cybersecurity vulnerabilities
- Exposure of proprietary or sensitive information
- Inaccurate or misleading AI-generated
- Governance and compliance challenges
From an IT perspective, Larry Wilson, Cybersecurity Engineering Contractor for the U.S. Marine Corps, notes that a key risk is employees using unauthorized AI platforms, or “shadow AI,” which can expose sensitive data.
Organizations should implement clear oversight, cybersecurity safeguards, and data governance practices before scaling AI initiatives across the enterprise. Balancing innovation with responsible oversight will be critical as AI capabilities continue to evolve.
Moving Forward With AI
AI is quickly becoming embedded in everyday business processes. Organizations that approach adoption thoughtfully can unlock significant value by identifying high-impact use cases, embracing responsible experimentation, training employees, and implementing strong risk controls.
David recommends that organizations “jump in, set guardrails, guide your people, and help them be successful going forward.”
Watch the full webinar on demand to dive deeper into practical strategies for adopting AI responsibly and effectively.
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