How to Write an AI Code of Conduct | Fat Moon Mushrooms
Develop a clear sense of what to consider when you draft your own AI Code of Conduct.
An AI code of conduct is a short written agreement about how you and your team use AI. Before you write one, settle three questions: how do we use it, how much, and why? AI can be a minefield, and you probably already have strong opinions. In this lunch & learn, Elizabeth shares a framework for organizing them into a code of conduct.
Download a free starter guide to help you write your AI Code of Conduct.
What you’ll take away
- Call it a code of conduct, not a policy. It gives guidance instead of rules you’d have to enforce, and it’s easier to change.
- Start with your mission and values. Then ask whether AI is the right tool for that mission.
- Spell out what you do and don’t use AI for, with concrete examples your team can picture.
- Set limits from your values and your security needs, such as which data never goes into a tool.
- Name who staff ask, so people can say “can I use AI for this?” without guessing.
- Schedule a review, and decide what would trigger one sooner.
- Remember that AI is not the first step or the last step. A person checks the output before it goes out.
FAQ
Why call it a code of conduct instead of a policy? A policy has to be enforced, and it’s hard to monitor tools like ChatGPT. A code of conduct gives direction, works for teams with a wide range of opinions about AI, and is easier to update as tools change.
What should an AI code of conduct cover? Five things: your mission and values, what you do and don’t use AI for, your limits (values plus security and legal), who staff ask, and when you’ll review it.
Do I need a separate AI document? Not always. AI is another tool, so you may only need to update the data security, handbook, or conduct sections you already have.
How do I get my team on board? You can draft it yourself, survey the team first, or hold a group discussion tied back to your mission. A survey lets people say what they already do before they react to each other.
What does AI-use look like in practice? One example from the talk: an organization might use AI to draft meeting minutes but never for a performance review, because that depends on a human relationship.
About the author: Elizabeth Almeida ran Fat Moon Mushrooms as a commercial specialty mushroom farm for a decade, and now helps small businesses and farms put AI to work. Every Friday she hosts a free lunch & learn on farm business, AI, and whatever else she’s learning. See what’s coming up.