AI at work: Why Kiwi employers need comprehensive policies

Published 31 October 2023 | 3 min read

Over 40% of employees use generative AI at work

Generative AI is a rapidly developing technology that is changing the way we work. It is already being used by over 40% of employees in New Zealand, and this number is only going to grow.

However, many employers are not prepared for the widespread use of generative AI. Only 10% of employers in New Zealand have a formal policy in place for its use. This lack of policy is a major concern, as it can lead to a number of risks, including:

• Misinformation and disinformation
• Privacy violations
• Social engineering
• Loss of intellectual property
• Job displacement
• Widening of skills gaps

Why employers need comprehensive policies

Comprehensive policies on generative AI are essential for employers to mitigate the risks associated with this technology and to reap its full benefits. These policies should cover the following areas:

• Permissible uses of generative AI: The policy should clearly define what types of generative AI are allowed to be used in the workplace and for what purposes. This will help to ensure that generative AI is used in a way that is aligned with the organisation's values and goals.
• Data security and privacy: The policy should outline how generative AI will be used to protect employee data and privacy. This is especially important given the potential for generative AI to be used to create synthetic data that could be used to impersonate real people.
• Bias mitigation: The policy should address the issue of bias in generative AI. This includes identifying and mitigating potential sources of bias in the data used to train generative AI models, and monitoring the outputs of generative AI models for bias.
• Intellectual property: The policy should clarify who owns the intellectual property generated by generative AI. This is important to avoid disputes over ownership and to protect the organisation's intellectual property rights.
• Accountability: The policy should establish accountability for the use of generative AI. This includes identifying who is responsible for developing and implementing the policy, as well as who is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the policy.

Benefits of comprehensive policies

Comprehensive policies on generative AI can help employers to:

• Reduce the risk of misinformation and disinformation being generated and disseminated by generative AI.
• Protect employee data and privacy.
• Mitigate bias in generative AI.
• Protect the organisation's intellectual property rights.
• Promote the responsible and ethical use of generative AI.

Conclusion

Employers in New Zealand need to develop comprehensive policies for the use of generative AI in the workplace. These policies will help to mitigate the risks associated with this technology and to reap its full benefits.

Additional tips for developing a comprehensive generative AI policy:

• When developing your AI policy, be sure to consult with a variety of stakeholders, including employees, legal counsel, and IT experts. This will help to ensure that the policy is comprehensive and effective.
• Your AI policy should be tailored to the specific needs of your organisation. Consider the types of generative AI that your employees are likely to use, the data that will be used to train and operate generative AI models, and the potential risks and benefits of using generative AI in your workplace.
• Your AI policy should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in technology and the workplace.
• Communicate your AI policy to all employees and ensure that they understand their responsibilities.
• Provide training to employees on how to use generative AI safely and ethically.

By following these tips, you can help to develop a comprehensive generative AI policy that will protect your organisation and its employees.