This month, our dynamic team member, Dorrian Wilson, is shedding some light on the sudden rise of AI. She gave us a better understanding of what artificial intelligence is, how it's really impacting us, and how to develop a more ethical relationship with it.
Dorrian established herself as a leader in AI governance and risk, “helping organizations understand not just what AI can do, but what it should do.” Her current work includes AI risk and governance in the energy sector, consulting work through SheGov.AI, and a research background focused on ethics, consent, and systems that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. She also writes and speaks publicly about AI governance, transparency, and human-centered leadership in the age of automation.
Our featured expert, Dorrian Wilson
“I’ve spent my career working in regulated, high-impact environments where trust, safety, and accountability matter. I care deeply about translating complex systems into language people can actually use to make informed decisions. So for me, I come to AI through governance, not hype.”
What Exactly is AI?
So we wanted to know, what’s really going on with AI? From trajectories with immense promise to ones that foretell an impact that is much more daunting, AI still appears a bit unregulated. Thankfully, Dorrian was able to ground our understanding in reality.
But first, what exactly is AI, or artificial intelligence? According to IBM, AI is a system of learning that allows machines to replicate human behavior, such as planning, organizing, and producing content.
“AI has real power to streamline creation, decision-making, and productivity, but the ethical risks don’t come from the technology itself,” said Dorrian.“They come from how humans deploy it. The opportunity and the risk are inseparable. The way forward is not fear or blind adoption, but governance. Clear boundaries around data use, transparency about limitations, accountability when systems fail, and human oversight where impact is high. AI should expand human capability, not replace judgment or responsibility. The greatest risk is treating AI as neutral or infallible when it is neither.”
Using AI Ethically
To put it plainly, here are Dorrian's pros and cons of AI:
Pros of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
| Pros of Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Cons of Artificial Intelligence (AI) |
| Free people’s time and resources | Obscure accountability |
| Increase efficiency | Reinforce bias |
| Surface insights at scale | Create harm when deployed without proper guardrails |
| Support better decision-making when used responsibly | Poor data practices can compromise privacy and trust |
| Reduce administrative burden | Over-automation can lead to decision-making without context |
| Improve and increase access to information and services | ---------------- |
Dorrian Wilson, a modern-day leader in AI governance.
Whether we want it or not, artificial intelligence is here, embedded in many facets of our work, home, and school lives. But the current hype around it has crafted a dizzying cocktail of overuse, fear, and avoidance. We were curious about how to find a sustainable middle ground that can make our integration with AI simpler and safer.
Dorrian shared the top five tips to support readers in their journey with AI, as it is rapidly integrated into our daily lives. Below are some questions to consider when seeking out the best AI practices and programs as they become increasingly available.
Top 5 Ways to Identify High Quality AI
- Transparency: Does the tool clearly explain what it does, how it was trained, and its limitations?
- Data Practices: Where does the data come from, and how is user data handled and protected?
- Human Oversight: Is there a clear process for human review, escalation, or correction?
- Accountability: Who is responsible if something goes wrong?
- Fit for Purpose: Is the AI appropriate for the task, especially if decisions affect people’s lives, rights, or opportunities?
“AI is powerful, but it’s not magic. The smartest users are the ones who stay curious, ask good questions, and remember that responsibility always sits with humans, not machines," Dorrian concludes. So, it seems that AI, when created and used responsibly, isn’t so scary after all? Let us know your thoughts.
