Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with graduate students and professionals during an ethics class at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) as part of my Visiting Scholar role. The focus? How AI is transforming strategic communications, PR, and the ethical challenges that come with it. This wasn’t just a theoretical discussion—these students are professionals working full-time in roles that demand they stay ahead of the curve. Over the course of 45 minutes, we unpacked the leadership and ethical considerations that come with integrating AI into strategic communication practices.
If you don’t have time to watch the full video (linked below), here are the most critical takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
AI Is a Leadership Challenge, Not Just a Tech Tool: Companies can’t afford to see AI as just a shiny new toy. It’s a tool that can enhance efficiency but must be managed responsibly. Trust is at the heart of AI adoption—both for internal stakeholders and external audiences.
Example: A simple exercise we did during the session was Googling companies’ names alongside “AI.” What we found was striking: nearly every company had a public statement outlining how they are using AI and committing to its responsible integration. AI adoption is about building trust—not just delivering results.
The AI Adoption Scorecard, A Framework for Success: To help organizations implement AI thoughtfully, I’ve developed a scorecard framework that evaluates adoption across five critical areas:
Data Governance: Protecting sensitive information and ensuring compliance.
Bias Detection: Avoiding unintentional exclusion or harm through AI outputs.
Crisis Preparedness: Being ready to address risks before they turn into PR disasters.
Reputation Management: Ensuring alignment with brand values and mitigating reputational risks.
Ethical Leadership: Setting the tone for responsible and transparent AI use.
This framework isn’t just theoretical—it’s rooted in my hands-on experience managing brand crises and helping organizations align their tools with their values.
Learning Never Stops: Stay Curious About AI: As communicators, we’re not expected to be engineers, but we are expected to understand how AI fits into our work. Tools like Canva and Notion are already integrating AI to enhance productivity. Staying curious and experimenting with these platforms is key to staying relevant.
One great resource I recommend? Andrew Ng’s AI for Everyone course on Coursera. It’s an excellent primer for communicators who need to understand the landscape without getting lost in technical jargon.
Don’t Let AI Replace Human Insight: While AI can help draft press releases, analyze data, and predict trends, it can’t replace the strategic thinking and nuanced decision-making that communicators bring to the table. AI is a tool—but we are the leaders who must wield it wisely.
This was an enriching conversation, and I hope these insights provide value as you navigate the evolving role of AI in your work.
Final Thoughts
AI is reshaping how we approach communication, but the fundamentals—leadership, trust, and ethical practices—remain unchanged. Whether you’re just starting to explore AI tools or actively integrating them into your workflows, the key is to lead with curiosity and responsibility.
What’s your approach to adopting AI in your work? Have you encountered any challenges or successes worth sharing? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!