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How do I write an AI policy for my company?

Chris Duffy

Chris Duffy

Certified Chief AI Officer • • 2 Min Read

Keep it to one or two pages and cover four things: which AI tools are approved, what data can and can't go into them, who signs off new tools, and what happens when something goes wrong. That's a working AI policy. The forty-page version nobody reads protects you less than the short one everybody does.

Start from how your team already works rather than from a template. Watch what tools they're using now (they're using something), draw the data line clearly, and name one person who approves new use. Write it in plain English so people follow it without a lawyer.

Then keep it alive. A policy that's dated and reviewed carries weight in a client's due diligence. One written once and forgotten doesn't. Our free AI Manifesto template is the one-page version: vision, permitted and prohibited uses, data boundaries, human oversight, accountability.

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Common questions

How do I write an AI policy for my company?

Keep it to one or two pages and cover four things: which AI tools are approved, what data can and can't go into them, who signs off new tools, and what happens when something goes wrong. That's a working AI policy. The forty-page version nobody reads protects you less than the short one everybody does.

Does my SME need an AI policy at all?

Yes, if staff use AI tools on work data. A short written policy covers approved tools, what data can go into them, and who signs off new use. It protects you under UK GDPR and reassures clients during due diligence.

Chris Duffy, founder of Ignite AI Solutions

About the author

Chris Duffy Founder and Chief AI Officer, Ignite AI Solutions

Chris is the founder of Ignite AI Solutions and a Certified Chief AI Officer. He's a Claude Partner, was named a Top 20 AI Leader in 2026, is a regular expert source for Forbes on AI and cybersecurity, a Responsible AI Awards nominee, and nominated for 3 awards at the National AI Awards 2026. Ex UK Special Forces, he now helps UK SMEs adopt AI safely.

More about Chris · Chris in Forbes · LinkedIn · Substack

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