PILLAR GUIDE
Practical AI at work
Practical AI at work means assigning bounded tasks to AI, supplying only appropriate context, checking the output against evidence, and keeping a named person responsible for the result. The goal is not more prompts; it is a repeatable workflow that improves a measurable task.
Start with the work, not the tool
Choose a recurring task with a clear input, output, owner, and quality standard. A narrow task such as drafting a first-pass brief is easier to test than a vague goal such as ‘use AI more.’
- Write the current process before adding AI.
- Mark the decisions that require human judgment.
- Define what a usable result must contain.
Build a controlled workflow
A useful workflow separates source material, model instructions, generated output, verification, and approval. This makes failures visible and gives the team a place to improve the process.
- Use approved, minimum-necessary inputs.
- Require citations or traceable source references when facts matter.
- Record exceptions and escalation paths.
Measure capability, not activity
Prompt counts and login frequency do not show whether work improved. Compare time, rework, error rate, and reviewer confidence on the same task before and after training.
- Run a small baseline sample.
- Use representative cases, including difficult ones.
- Scale only when quality and risk remain acceptable.
CONCRETE EXAMPLE
Example: an AI-assisted research brief
An operations analyst spends two hours assembling a weekly brief from approved public sources.
- Create a fixed brief template.
- Ask AI to extract claims with source URLs.
- Have the analyst verify high-impact claims and approve the final brief.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Check the basis for this guide.
NIST · 2023
AI Risk Management Framework 1.0
NIST · 2024
Generative AI Profile — NIST AI 600-1
Frequently asked questions
Which work task should use AI first?
Choose a frequent, reversible task with clear quality criteria and low consequences if the first draft is wrong.
Should AI make the final decision?
Not for consequential work. Use it to prepare options or drafts while a qualified person remains accountable.
AI Literacy at Work: Prompt, Verify, Protect
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