Responsible AI use at work: a guide for modern leaders

Artificial intelligence (AI) is showing up everywhere – in reports, presentations, slide decks, meeting prep, and even daily decision-making. Yet for many professionals, the real challenge isn’t whether to use these tools. It’s knowing when they add value and where the line is. That balancing act is what responsible AI use at work is all about.

In my latest column in The Globe and Mail, I walk through six practical questions that can guide your decisions before you turn to AI. They’re simple, but powerful, and designed to help you make smart choices rather than risky ones. Responsible AI use at work shouldn’t be about fear or avoidance; it should be about judgment.

These questions prompt you to consider things like:

• Does this task require your voice or your judgment?
• Would you be comfortable if someone knew you used AI for this?
• Are you fact-checking the details before hitting “send”?
• Does your organization have expectations you should be following?

They also help you distinguish the safe tasks from the tasks that could create problems if you rely on AI too heavily. At the end of the day, responsible AI use at work simply means using AI to enhance your thinking, not replace it.

As AI tools become more accessible, this skill will only grow in importance. Savvy professionals will be the ones who know when AI helps, when it doesn’t, and how to keep the integrity of their work intact. Data shows that many Canadians are using these tools, but fewer feel confident in how they’re using them. That confidence comes from asking the right questions.

So, how are you navigating AI in your own day-to-day work?  What’s been easiest to adopt?  And what still feels uncertain?  Please share your experiences in the Comments section below so we can learn from one another.