How To Create AI Guidelines for Your Content Team

Artificial intelligence (AI) has almost certainly already made its way into your workplace, even if you don’t realize it. And no, it’s not as simple as looking for em dashes in emails and memos — humans have always used those (my old college essays are proof). But you may have noticed that your team is suddenly brainstorming faster or writing flawless reports. 

This technology can be incredibly helpful when used responsibly, but it also comes with some major risks. Here’s how to create clear and effective AI guidelines that protect your brand and support (not stifle) your writers.

The Reality: AI Use Is Already Happening

According to Clutch, 62% of employees use AI tools at work without any formal guidance. 

For marketers and content leaders, this statistic can feel downright terrifying. You might imagine your team parroting dangerous misinformation from AI (hello, lawsuit). Or, maybe even worse, copying and pasting robotic content straight from ChatGPT into a client’s blog.

These concerns are completely valid, but employees’ familiarity with AI also offers real opportunities. That avid ChatGPT user may have already taught themselves the art of prompt engineering. And writers who brainstorm with AI might be creating more creative content than ever. 

What Happens Without Guidelines? 

While AI use can be rewarding, it shouldn’t be a free-for-all. Here are a few potential risks of not creating any guardrails for your team. 

Inconsistent Content

Without rules, writers may use the same tools in very different ways. One might meticulously fact-check AI-generated content and tweak it to match the brand voice. But a different colleague might just give it a cursory skim. Before you know it, the quality of your team’s work plummets, and no two pieces sound alike. That lack of consistency will leave readers and clients side-eying your work. 

Ethical and legal risks

AI might seem like a wellspring of information, but it isn’t always accurate. A 2025 study found that AI chatbots “provided incorrect answers to more than 60 percent of queries” when asked to cite news sources. If you don’t require your team to double-check sources, they might accidentally reference imaginary articles — a huge blow to your credibility. 

This technology can also open companies up to legal risks. According to a Clutch survey, “only 68% of businesses have guidelines for what data their team can input into AI tools.” 

That’s incredibly risky, because companies may use this information to train their models. For example, Google Gemini collects user data and uses it to “develop and personalize Google products and services and machine-learning technologies.” Ask Gemini to proofread a report with confidential client data, and it might expose that information to someone else. Or it could regurgitate your intellectual property.

Lack of efficiency 

Not having explicit guidelines prevents your team from using AI effectively. Some employees might assume you’ve banned the technology and avoid it entirely. Others might experiment but not know how to write good prompts or humanize the output. Either way, you’re not saving as much time as you could be with responsible AI use. 

A Better Way: Create AI Guidelines That Empower 

It’s time to stop treating AI like the boogeyman — or the Wild West, depending on your team’s attitude. With a few thoughtful guidelines, you can get the most out of this technology and help your team upskill. 

Follow these best practices: 

• Spell out approved AI applications: Encourage your team to use AI in appropriate, low-risk ways. For example, you might allow writers to use it to generate outlines or brainstorm ideas. These uses can boost productivity and help banish writer’s block — because let’s face it, coming up with 20 email subject lines or Instagram captions isn’t easy. 
• Discourage unethical or risky uses: Don’t leave your guidelines ambiguous. Tell your team when they should avoid using AI. Copying and pasting content verbatim? Absolutely not. Inputting someone’s confidential health data? Also off the table. 
• Designate a reviewer: You wouldn’t publish human-written content without asking an editor to look it over. The same principle applies to anything generated by AI. Appoint at least one AI-savvy person to review all content for accuracy and quality. 
• Collaborate with other departments: Clutch recommends working with your IT team to identify secure AI tools. You should also consult your legal department to make sure your AI guidelines comply with applicable data privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act. 

How Compose.ly Approaches AI in Content Creation 

At Compose.ly, our expert writers still produce plenty of purely human content. But we also offer optional AI-assisted workflows. For example, some of our clients choose to use AI-generated outlines, which can make it easier to create search engine-optimized articles. 

Plus, we provide affordable AI-assisted writing using custom GPTs for privacy. Don't worry — human editors review all content for quality and originality. 

And, of course, we educate our entire team on ethical AI use. Want to learn more about how we can help you navigate AI-assisted (or AI-free) content creation? Get in touch today!