You’ve likely heard the buzz by now about AI tools such as Midjourney and ChatGPT, the incredible artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. These tools truly are transforming the way we run our businesses by streamlining processes and creating content more efficiently than ever.
From ideation, keyword research, and content creation—including writing emails, website copy, blog posts, and video scripts—to crafting high-quality artwork, handling customer service, and even completing client deliverables, ChatGPT is the ultimate time- and money-saver, acting as your very own (and free) virtual assistant.
After spending time testing the capabilities of both ChatGPT and Midjourney (a very impressive text-to-image AI that can crank out custom images for book covers, coloring book interiors, logos, posters, and basically any job you can think of that requires imagery), I can tell you that these tools are truly mind blowing and are going to revolutionize the way we all work.
But here’s the reality: technology is advancing at breakneck speed, leaving policy in the dust. Most of the content you’ll encounter about incorporating AI tools into your online business highlights the benefits of saving time, effort, and money, but often omits crucial legal and ethical considerations.
I won’t delve into the broader philosophical concerns surrounding AI, such as the potential for it to take over the world and threaten humanity (though those discussions are indeed valuable). Instead, I’ll concentrate on 5 ethical and legal aspects that are particularly relevant to online businesses and how you can responsibly and ethically utilize AI tools.
You can watch the video or read on for the main points I share.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means—at zero cost to you—I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!)
5 Concerns with AI in Business And How To Solve Them
Before we dive into 5 concerns with using AI, please note: I’m not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. If you require professional legal guidance, I highly recommend consulting an actual lawyer. With that said, let’s get into 5 concerns with using AI in business.
Concern 1: AI-Generated Content and Plagiarism
Problem: A primary concern with AI-generated content lies in the possibility of plagiarism and copyright infringement. AI language models are trained on large amounts of online text. Because of this, they can unintentionally produce content that closely resembles existing work. This similarity may result in copyright and intellectual property violations.
Even if it’s not an exact copy, content that closely mirrors the structure and style of existing work without proper attribution or citation might still be considered plagiarism. Using copyrighted material without permission in AI-generated content can lead to legal action against your business. This risk is especially high when using tools like ChatGPT to create content such as blog posts, book manuscripts, or emails.
The AI tool Midjourney, for example, has been trained on millions of images from the internet, many of which were created by individual artists who haven’t granted permission for their artwork to be used. Several AI artwork generators, Midjourney included, are facing lawsuits for alleged copyright infringement. These AI companies have asked the US courts to dismiss the claims, citing fair use. Legally, it’s unclear how the artists behind these lawsuits might prevail. AI-generated artwork is created in a manner similar to human artists, who often learn by studying and imitating the work of others before developing their unique styles. However, the impact on artists’ employment is a separate issue that I’ll address later.
Solution: If you’re a content creator or a business, it’s a smart move to use a plagiarism detection tool like Grammarly to ensure that any text generated by AI tools is original. Don’t forget to properly cite any specific data points or stats from other sources, too.
Remember, it’s crucial to read and understand the licensing terms of any AI tool, especially when using it for commercial purposes. Yes, I know licensing agreements aren’t the most fun things to read, but you’ll thank yourself later! Also, keep an eye on how intellectual property laws evolve in response to this new technology so you’re always on the right side of the law.
Here’s what I suggest: use AI-generated content only as a starting point. I personally find ChatGPT super helpful in my brainstorming process, like when I’m trying to overcome writer’s block or need to create content based on an outline I’ve already created for myself. In fact, that’s what I did with the script of this video! But I wouldn’t rely on it to write an entire blog post, video script, or email to my audience from scratch. Beside the risks of plagiarism or misinformation, I want my writing to reflect my voice and connect with my audience—something I can’t achieve by simply handing the work over to ChatGPT.
Concern 2: Factual Errors
Problem: AI-generated content might not always be spot-on or high-quality, which can lead to spreading misinformation. That’s a quick way to potentially get into legal trouble and lose credibility with your audience, and you don’t want to do that!
The thing is, the algorithms creating the content are only as reliable as the data they’re trained on, and let’s face it—there’s a ton of false info on the web.
Solution: To avoid introducing false information into your content, make sure a human editor reviews and fact-checks any AI-generated content before it goes live. This way, you can ensure it’s accurate and high-quality, especially if you love sprinkling in facts and stats. If you skip this step, you’ll just add to the already huge issue of misinformation and risk damaging your credibility and authority in your niche.
Concern 3: Transparency
Problem: If your audience or clients aren’t aware that the content they’re consuming is AI-generated, they might perceive it as deceptive or misleading, leading to a loss of trust in your business.
Solution: Be transparent about your use of AI in your business operations. Include this information in your website terms and conditions, service contracts, and any client-facing materials. Honest disclosure can prevent misunderstandings and help build trust between you and your audience.
Concern 4: Bias and Discrimination
Problem: AI-generated content might unintentionally include biased or discriminatory language. AI algorithms can also perpetuate existing biases in hiring practices or advertising platforms, further marginalizing underrepresented groups.
Solution: Make sure you use human oversight to review content for biased or discriminatory language. When using AI models for hiring or advertising, ensure the models are trained on diverse and representative datasets that include a wide range of genders, races, ethnicities, and other characteristics to minimize biased outcomes.
Concern 5: Job Displacement
Problem: This is a big concern for a lot of people. As more people turn to tools like ChatGPT for content creation, customer service, and email writing, or use AI like Midjourney for generating professional-level artwork, professionals in these fields might become really worried about their future. And if you’re running a business that hires these types of professionals, you might wonder if choosing AI over human creators is ethical.
This is a tough one, because job displacement is inevitable. The scale of it is hard to predict, but it’s bound to happen. If your job is affected, it’s a huge deal. My dad was a machinist, and robotics began taking over a decade into his career. I remember when I was growing up that there was a long period where he struggled to find work as his trade became obsolete, causing hardship for our family.
But one thing’s for sure—you can’t stop progress, especially when it comes to technology. History’s full of examples where new inventions we love today led to the decline of entire industries. The printing press impacted scribes, the mechanized loom affected weavers, and there are countless other cases where technology had a major impact on certain professions even, in some cases, to the point of obsolescence.
Solution: In my opinion, if you feel your livelihood is at risk, don’t resist the technology that’s here to stay. Instead, adapt and find ways to make it work for you. Remember, you have skills that AI can’t easily replace, such as critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. As some professions evolve or even become obsolete due to advancing AI, it’s likely that AI will also create new opportunities we can’t yet imagine.
How I Use AI in My Business
I believe it’s possible to use AI in your online business responsibly, ethically, and thoughtfully. I think AI should be viewed as a supportive tool rather than a complete replacement for human expertise and creativity. Although you can use ChatGPT for writing entire emails and blog posts, you have to ask yourself if the content will truly represent your unique voice and brand values.
My personal approach is to use AI mainly for brainstorming sessions or creating initial drafts from my own outlines. I don’t want to depend on it to write complete blog posts or emails, as the resulting content often lacks personality and storytelling elements and tends to feel generic—not an ideal way to connect with my audience!
If you’re using AI in your online business, I’d love to hear about your experiences and thoughts on its limitations. Leave a comment and let me know.
If you’d like to learn more about my own experiences with ChatGPT and Midjourney, check out:
- Discover Winning KDP Keywords and Write Books Faster Using the Power of ChatGPT
- Transform Your Low-Content Books with CF Spark AI Tools
- Create a 30-Page Coloring Book Interior in 60 Minutes Using Midjourney AI
For solopreneurs just starting out or considering launching an online business, I’ve created a free guide called “The 4-Step ‘No Time to Waste’ Online Business Start-Up Blueprint.” This guide covers everything from idea generation to marketing your offer to your audience. You’re also invited to join my free Facebook group, Rachel’s Sandbox.
