Last week, I had the honor of speaking at the Business Access Media (#BAM2024) conference, hosted by Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Washington, D.C. The event took place at the former Newseum, a perfect venue for discussing the evolving role of AI in communications.
My talk focused on The Future of AI in Communications: Ethics, Risk, and Leadership—a critical topic as AI continues to reshape how we work. AI has empowered PR professionals to be more efficient, strategic, and creative. Yet, with these advantages come new risks that require our attention.
Balancing AI’s Opportunities and Risks
AI offers transformative opportunities for PR, including:
Automating repetitive tasks to focus on more strategic initiatives.
Analyzing large amounts of data in real-time for personalized communication.
Enhancing creativity by enabling innovative storytelling techniques.
However, alongside these benefits are risks such as:
Data Privacy Breaches: A single breach can damage years of trust.
Bias in AI Algorithms: Without careful oversight, AI can perpetuate biases in the data it’s trained on, which could harm brand equity.
Misinformation: AI can unintentionally spread false information, risking the credibility of the brands we represent.
Leading with Ethics and Foresight
In my talk, I emphasized the need for PR professionals to be proactive and lead with ethical foresight. AI is a powerful tool, but we must ensure it is used in ways that align with our values of transparency, inclusivity, and trust.
By applying these principles, we can mitigate AI-related risks and ensure that we maintain our role as trusted guardians of brand reputation.
Want to Learn More?
At BAM2024, I shared practical insights on how communicators can navigate these challenges. If you’re interested in learning more about how AI is changing PR or how to implement ethical AI strategies for your brand, I’d love to continue the conversation.
Feel free to reach out to me directly (Bianca@BStrategies.co) to discuss how we can leverage AI to benefit your brand while safeguarding its reputation.
Final Thoughts
A special thank you to the organizers of BAM2024 for hosting such an impactful event. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with industry leaders and explore how we can shape the future of communications with AI.
The future of AI in PR is bright, but it’s crucial that we lead with responsibility and foresight. I’m excited for what’s ahead and look forward to sharing more insights soon!