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A comprehensive, well-thought-out approach to AI is essential to ensure the organization reaps the benefits while mitigating the risks. Having your leadership take a lead on defining the use and applications for AI at your co-op is key to incorporating it successfully into your organization and making it sustainable. Leadership should proactively champion the use of AI, providing visible efforts and a concrete plan on implementation and use. While the leadership team has an essential role in developing and driving this strategy, be sure to involve staff with AI expertise from every part of the organization. You might find that you already have an AI expert on your team!  

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Prior to using AI, cooperatives may want to consider an AI policy, or incorporating AI-specific language to existing data use or data privacy policies. Through these measures, co-op leadership establishes who at your company can use AI, in what circumstances, for what purposes, and other important criteria. Along with establishing a policy before AI is implemented, it is also important that all co-op staff are provided the policy, become familar with it, and commit to adhering to it.  

• More Information on AI Policy
  Article: Implementing Generative AI: Legal
  Considerations and Guardrails (NRECA Legal Reporting Service, July 2024)
  Article: Generative AI: What Should Electric Cooperatives Be Thinking About? (NRECA Legal Reporting Service, November 2023)
  

• Sample AI Policy
  This Sample AI Policy (Sample Policy) addresses the use of AI at cooperatives. This Sample Policy is not intended to be adopted by cooperatives without consideration of the facts and circumstances unique to each cooperative's AI use. When adopting an AI usage policy, cooperatives may use this Sample Policy as a guide, a supplemental resource, a checklist of issues to address, or an example of specific language.  

NRECA provides a variety of resources to co-op Legal staff through our Electric Cooperative Bar Association (ECBA), including additional information on AI Policy. To join the ECBA, please see our website for more information.  

Key actions for this Pillar:

• Download and review NRECA's Sample AI Policy, and work with your legal team to customize it for your co-op.
• Make sure that all staff receive and understand the policy.

• Use the policy rollout as a springboard for discussions and training about using AI.  

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An AI analysis can only be effective if the input data is verified and validated to be accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date, avoiding the “garbage in, garbage out" pitfall. Developing a data strategy including sources for verified, validated data with specific processes on ownership, privacy, access, governance, authentication and updates is critical for AI implementation.  

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[accordion title="PILLAR%204%3A%20SECURITY"]It is critical that cybersecurity measures are in place at your co-op as a standard practice and before AI tools are deployed, to protect your co-op and the grid at large. AI tools provide additional “attack surfaces" for malicious entities to try to gain access to your co-op systems and data for disruption. Effective security requires integrating information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and physical security controls including strong access management, network segmentation, monitoring and coordinated incident response to protect critical infrastructure.

Do not overlook physical security as a component of cybersecurity. Physical assets such as control doors, cameras, alarms and building or operational controls play an important role in protecting digital assets. Because physical and digital systems are often networked and remotely managed, a cyber compromise can directly enable physical intrusions, safety risks or operational disruption, and vice versa.

NRECA has a wide variety of resources and engagement opportunities for co-ops to learn about and implement fundamental cybersecurity measures. A great starting point is the Co-op Cyber Goals Program developed by NRECA and used by almost 500 co-ops. In addition, an episode of NRECA's Along Those Lines podcast, Balancing AI's Benefits with Cybersecurity Risks, features our director of cybersecurity, Carter Manucy, discussing cybersecurity considerations for AI.
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As AI tools are available – some for free – in an easily accessible manner, it becomes important to ensure that co-op workforces are: 1) clearly aware of data access, usage guardrails and specific policies that must be followed while using AI tools; 2) an integral part of the implementation of the AI strategy with clear and frequent communications on the topic; and 3) empowered to explore AI applications that are relevant to their work and provide measurable improvements in efficiency and accuracy.
At the same time, it is also important to provide structured training and education to help ensure that AI tools are used effectively, strategically and securely to contribute towards achievement of co-op objectives.
Some educational opportunities include:  

• Participate in NRECA's online AI professional community to discuss AI and share projects and ideas with peers. Contact our team at coopAI@nreca.coop to join.  

• Consider attending AI sessions at NRECA's PowerXchange and TechAdvantage, and other conference and webinar sessions.  

• AI Tools for Communicators  

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