Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool for modern businesses. AI can summarize information, generate content or code, and even provide data insights.

Tessitura member organizations are also conducting exciting experiments with this technology. AI is being used by fundraisers to identify potential donors based on their engagement levels. It’s helping marketing teams customize ad placements and optimize budgets. And AI powers the predictive forecasting features in Tessitura Analytics, helping organizations reduce uncertainty as they plan for the future. In short, AI can drive digital transformation and innovation on a scale beyond the capabilities of individuals.

At the same time, there are reasons to proceed with caution when exploring this technology, especially generative AI tools. Generative AI platforms may incorporate the information you provide into their models, training their systems’ algorithms to improve future interactions. This has the potential to expose sensitive data you share to the public or to bad actors.

There are specific risks you should consider when employing AI to further your use of Tessitura. You might wish to input Tessitura database schema or table structures in an AI tool to help you write code. You could prompt AI to summarize a lengthy section of documentation for your team. But sharing Tessitura information in unprotected AI models risks exposing our intellectual property. As a Tessitura user, your organization has agreed to safeguard our intellectual property from those outside the Tessitura community. Failure to do so, even inadvertently, could be a breach of contract.

Please follow these recommendations to ensure your organization and Tessitura are protected.

Read thoroughly the terms and conditions of the AI tools you intend to use.

The model should guarantee the data or other information you upload is protected, private and not stored.

Protect intellectual property.

Uploading content into generative AI introduces the possibility you could reveal sensitive or proprietary information. To guard against this, choose a tool that guarantees the privacy and protection of your data and interactions. Never share confidential details in open AI models.

Ensure customers’ privacy.

Using AI tools to summarize Tessitura data, such as constituent details, may also reveal your customers’ personally identifiable information (PII). This can risk your compliance with data protection and privacy legislation.

Evaluate results critically.

Large language models such as ChatGPT or Gemini are only as good as the data used to build them. That means their results can be unreliable, and their outputs may be incorrect or biased. Review the outcomes carefully so you can use them effectively.

AI has the potential to boost efficiency and innovation. With responsible use, we can harness the advantages of AI while safeguarding individuals, customers and organizations.