AI Is Here
Let’s Use It Securely

December 09, 2025

Do you ever wish for ways to do your job faster and more efficiently? Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be able to help, but they can also introduce security risks and other challenges if they are not used responsibly. And therein lies the problem. The reality is that many people do not use AI responsibly and also underestimate the risks of failing to do so.

So, What Are the Risks?

Most of us now interact regularly with AI tools, particularly large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. And while the abilities of those generative AI tools are impressive, it is important to remember that they are not infallible or always secure. Consider these examples of major risks associated with AI:

• AI tools may store your input for extended periods of time. If you share sensitive information, it could be used in unintended ways (e.g., to further train and refine the model) and be at risk of theft if it is not properly secured.
   
• Sharing sensitive information could violate privacy laws. Inputting something like personally identifiable information (PII) can raise significant privacy concerns and potentially violate privacy laws, depending on the context, jurisdiction and safeguards in place.
   
• The accuracy of AI output is not guaranteed. The AI tool you use is only as accurate as the data on which it was trained. If biases are present in the training data, the data is old/incomplete, or if it has been tampered with, it will adversely impact model performance and the output you receive.
   
• Using AI tools may raise ethical concerns. Presenting or delivering AI-generated work without disclosing it can lead to real consequences, such as reputational damage and erosion of trust. There is also the question of authenticity, as AI tools train on datasets that may include copyrighted or proprietary material. This raises the possibility that you may unknowingly infringe on someone else’s intellectual property.

What Should You Do?

You can only control what you control. That means continuing to educate yourself about the risks and taking proactive steps to reduce them whenever possible. Following these tips can help you protect yourself and your data.

1. Watch What You Input: Refrain from sharing sensitive, proprietary or other confidential information. If you would not post it publicly on social media, then do not share it when working with an AI tool.
    
2. Trust, But Verify: Treat all AI output as a draft or suggestion. Cross-check all content for any occurrences of plagiarism and validate any facts or details before proceeding. Remember that AI’s ‘knowledge’ comes from its training data, which can be incomplete or skewed.
    
3. Only Use Approved Tools: Stick to well-known, reputable AI services. In professional settings, only use tools that have been vetted and authorized by your organization. 
    
4. Stay Alert for Suspicious Activity: As AI tools become more powerful and accessible, the potential for misuse grows. Generative AI tools have been used to create fake videos, phishing emails and even malware. Given those threats, stay alert for any suspicious activity when using AI tools and content.

Secure Your AI with Optiv

AI can make us faster, more creative and more efficient, but only if we keep our security guard up. Using AI responsibly is about knowledge, secure behaviors and constant vigilance. Just like driving a high-performance car, the thrill comes from knowing how to handle the speed safely.

At Optiv, we help you build customizable AI models while ensuring security across the entire AI lifecycle. No matter where you are in your AI security journey, Optiv is here to help secure AI and grow your solutions at scale. Reach out to an Optiv expert today to discuss your AI security needs.