Navigating AI: Guidelines and Guardrails

AI is impacting government communication through the introduction of Microsoft Copilot and through changing expectations and behaviours within the community. From stakeholder trust levels to how the community uses AI to communicate with you, navigating AI in your department or agency is more than “we have Co-Pilot”.

Is this course right for you?

This course is designed for government workers considering AI usage in their department or agency for communication, and staff who work with stakeholder communication on an everyday basis.

It may be right for you if you:

• Are considering how AI could be used for communication in your department or agency
• Work with stakeholder communication every day
• Need to understand the risks associated with AI in your current role
• Want to consider the ethical implications of using AI
• Are exploring how AI-generated content may be received by readers and stakeholders
• Need to develop a framework to inform future directions for AI usage, or not
• Want practical ideas for how AI could be used as a tool if your organisation moves towards it

What you’ll explore

AI is somewhat of a moving feast within government, with the spectrum of usage ranging from a cautious toe-in-the-water approach through to departments embracing the technology while telling all staff to “use Co-Pilot”.

This course explores what you need to consider to effectively navigate AI in government communication, including:

• The risk genies you’d prefer to stay in the bottle
• What you could do as an individual, as a team or across whole staff groups
• What you’ll accept or tolerate from stakeholders using AI and sending the output to you
• The key considerations for AI within your department or agency
• The risk elements that must be considered
• The ethical considerations that will inform your use of AI
• The position you could take on stakeholder communication generated by AI
• Developing a framework for staff that manages risk while encouraging AI use
• The various tasks that AI could streamline within your communication, including creation and editing of targeted text-based communication, reviewing and editing writing, Visual and video-based content and feedback and sentiment analysis
• Managing AI usage in your department, including recruitment, grant application and contract communication and reports
• The three layers of impact that AI will have on your communication with stakeholders and staff
• Developing processes and procedures for managing AI internally
• The five hidden ways AI can help your communication with minimal risk

Even if your workplace’s current position is tentative, developing an approach helps position you for the rapid-fire changes AI will continue to bring to the workplace. The key is not to be convinced to use AI or to avoid it, but to develop a framework for identifying how you can approach it today and tomorrow.

Benefits to You and Your Organisation

By the end of this course, you will have:

• Consider the risks associated with using AI in your current role
• An understanding of the ethical considerations that apply to using AI
• Evaluated the response of readers to AI-generated content
• The components of an AI framework to help inform future directions of AI usage, or not
• Ideas in terms of how to use AI should you move towards it as a tool
• Developed strategic consideration and a position about AI, rather than running to the extreme ends of the technology or avoiding it
• Consider how AI may continue to change and be incorporated into everyday tools in the not-too-distant future

Should Attend

• Government workers considering AI for use in their department or agency for communication
• Staff working with stakeholder communication on an everyday basis

Group Bookings

**For groups of five or more, IPAA SA can tailor the training to suit your organisation. Group bookings may also be eligible for a preferential rate. Complete the form, and our team will be in touch to discuss options. **