Use with care
Make room for privacy, fairness, and human judgment.
A practical checklist for thinking about accuracy, data, bias, transparency, and accountability when using AI.
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Check the stakes before choosing the tool
A brainstorming prompt and a decision about someone’s health, finances, education, or employment do not carry the same risk. Before relying on an AI output, consider who could be affected, how difficult a mistake would be to correct, and whether a human reviewer has the knowledge and authority to intervene.
A short review checklist
- Accuracy: Can you verify the answer with dependable sources?
- Privacy: Are you allowed to share this information with the tool?
- Fairness: Could the result treat a group differently or rely on a weak proxy?
- Transparency: Should people know AI helped produce this work?
- Accountability: Who is responsible for the final decision?
Protect sensitive information
Do not paste confidential, identifying, or sensitive material into a tool unless you understand its data settings and have permission to use it that way. When possible, remove names and details that are not needed for the task. Follow the rules that apply in your school, workplace, or profession.
If an answer affects someone’s rights or opportunities, make sure a responsible person can explain and review the decision.