Artificial intelligence has rapidly entered companies that, just a few years ago, couldn’t imagine working without pen and paper. Today, it’s hard to find an industry where AI doesn’t speed up processes, analyze data, or support customer service. But every technological leap comes with a price—and AI, along with its immense potential, brings risks that must be understood before we get swept up in the excitement of new tools.
AI – Ally or Risk?
AI isn’t a competitor to humans; it’s a tool. When used properly, it can be the best assistant we’ve ever had—it doesn’t sleep, complain, or ask for a raise. But like any tool, when used without awareness, it can cause harm. More and more companies rely on assistants such as Copilot, Gemini, or ChatGPT. They offer great convenience—but also open potential gateways to data leaks, poor decision-making, or GDPR violations.
Security and Compliance – A Necessary Partnership
Modern organizations must balance two dimensions: safe use and lawful use. This means not only protecting systems against cyberattacks but also using AI responsibly within existing legal frameworks such as GDPR and the upcoming AI Act.
The AI Act introduces risk classifications for AI systems—from low to high—and imposes obligations on organizations according to the level of potential harm. In practice, even a simple chatbot or recruitment tool can be considered “high-risk” if it influences decisions about people.
For High-Risk AI Systems, the AI Act imposes several strict obligations on both providers and users, including:
- A data quality management system (Art. 10),
- Detailed technical documentation (Art. 11),
- Logging and event recording (Art. 12),
- Ensuring human oversight (Art. 14).
Preparation for these requirements should be a priority at the project documentation stage. (Source: Articles 10, 11, 12, and 14 of the AI Act.)
And when AI systems process personal data, organizations must not forget about the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). Under Article 35 of GDPR, a DPIA is mandatory whenever personal data processing—such as in recruitment, employee monitoring, or profiling—poses a high risk to individual rights and freedoms. This is the foundation of the lawful use of AI.
Hallucinations, Plugins, and Other Surprises
Generative models can be brilliant—but also unexpectedly “creative.” AI hallucinations, or the invention of false facts, are a real problem. Therefore, AI-generated content should be treated as an assistant’s note—useful, but always verified by a human.
Another threat is prompt injection, a modern form of phishing. A single injected line of text can trick the AI system into revealing confidential data or executing unwanted commands. Add to that poorly secured plugins with overly broad permissions, and you have a recipe for digital chaos.
Opportunity, Not Threat
Despite these challenges, companies that understand the nature of AI will gain a significant advantage. Process automation, better knowledge management, and faster data analysis are just some of the benefits. The key is intentional implementation—training employees (AI literacy), choosing secure enterprise-grade models (such as business versions of Copilot or Gemini), maintaining control over data, and establishing clear governance procedures.
Smart AI – A Minimum Plan for Every Organization
- Identify where AI truly adds value.
- Read the terms of service for every tool you use.
- Use only business-grade, not free public, solutions.
- Train employees in secure AI use.
- Always keep a human in the decision-making loop.
- Assess regulatory risk: verify whether your system requires a DPIA (GDPR) or falls under the High-Risk category (AI Act), which triggers additional technical and documentation obligations.
It’s worth remembering: AI is neither a savior nor a threat—it’s a mirror of our technological awareness. Whether it brings value or chaos depends solely on how wisely we choose to implement it.
