The AI revolution has ushered in a complex landscape of governance, technology, and regulatory challenges that corporations must navigate with care. Legal leaders, particularly General Counsels (GCs), are uniquely positioned to guide their organizations through these uncharted waters, ensuring ethical and responsible use of AI technologies.
Customers and stakeholders increasingly demand transparency in AI systems, and as Sabastian Niles, President and Chief Legal Officer of Salesforce, points out, businesses have a unique opportunity to meet and exceed these expectations. In fostering trust, GCs can develop operational guidelines and proper oversight mechanisms. These guardrails ensure that the benefits of AI do not come at the expense of privacy and ethical considerations.
Creating clear operational guidelines from the outset is crucial. With no universal AI regulation to lean on, corporate legal teams must draft comprehensive policies that account for operational enhancement, data privacy, and associated risk factors. Trusted AI councils comprising cross-functional experts—including legal and product specialists—are essential for evaluating AI opportunities and risks at every stage of the product lifecycle.
Reskilling and upskilling within legal teams is another cornerstone in navigating the AI landscape. GCs should prioritize bringing in talent with AI expertise and encourage current team members to pursue AI education. Niles highlights the need for continuous education through internal summits, online training, and active participation in AI-focused discussions and conferences. This multi-faceted approach ensures that legal teams remain well-versed in AI developments and can apply these insights to their governance frameworks.
Engaging with multiple stakeholders, including government bodies and civil society, is also vital. Corporations should work alongside policymakers to shape regulations that ensure the safe and ethical use of AI. Salesforce’s collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s US AI Safety Institute Consortium exemplifies this multi-stakeholder engagement approach.
Proactive communication with customers about AI use is integral to maintaining trust. Legal leaders must ensure that companies are transparent about how AI systems operate and make decisions. At Salesforce, the collaboration between the Office of Ethical and Humane Use and legal teams to develop an AI acceptable use policy highlights the importance of clear, understandable communication about AI applications.
As we stand at a pivotal moment in the AI era, GCs have the opportunity to lead by example, setting the ethical tone and guiding their organizations and customers through this transformative period responsibly and transparently. For a detailed examination of how GCs can serve as navigators in the AI era, the full article by Sabastian Niles is available on Bloomberg Law.