Generative AI can summarize notes, draft messages and organize options, yet its fluent answers may still contain errors. A safe workflow treats model output as a draft or decision aid and applies proportionate verification before use—especially for legal, technical, financial, medical or safety-sensitive work.
The core idea
NIST’s Generative AI Profile identifies risk-management considerations specific to this technology. For everyday users, a practical response is to check the input, purpose, evidence and level of review required before relying on an output.
How to apply it
- Define the task precisely and separate source facts from your requested format or tone.
- Remove or anonymize sensitive information unless approved tools and rules permit its use.
- Ask for assumptions and possible gaps; independently check critical dates, calculations, references and citations.
- For high-impact decisions, use authorized specialists and established approval processes.
- Keep a brief record of what the tool helped produce and what a human verified or changed.
A workplace example
A manager asks AI to summarize a training-needs survey. Before sharing it, the manager checks that the file is allowed for use, confirms every percentage from the underlying data and verifies that no participants are identifiable in the published report. AI speeds the first draft; the manager remains responsible for the final conclusion.
What to watch out for
Do not assume all AI outputs are sourced, secure or suitable for confidential material. Do not present generated references without checking that they exist and support the claim. Organizations should define acceptable uses and review high-risk applications.
Practice and reflect
For the next AI-assisted document, label three items: AI-generated, independently verified and awaiting verification.