Using AI Tools Safely

What AI tools can help with

Used carefully, AI tools may assist with:

• Improving structure and clarity of written responses
• Reducing emotionally charged language
• Summarising long communications for personal understanding
• Helping draft neutral, professional wording

In these contexts, AI acts as a writing or organisation aid, not as a decision-maker.

Critical limitations

AI tools have significant limitations that consumers must understand.

• AI tools do not know the facts unless you supply them correctly
• AI may generate plausible but incorrect explanations
• AI does not understand legal context or consequences
• AI output may sound confident even when it is wrong

AI should never be treated as an authority or relied upon without verification.

What AI must never be used for

AI tools must not be used to:

• Invent or alter facts
• Rewrite events to sound stronger or more persuasive
• Guess missing information
• Replace your own judgement or understanding
• Provide legal advice

Any use of AI that changes factual accuracy undermines credibility and risks serious harm.

User responsibility

When using AI tools, the user retains full responsibility for all content sent or relied upon.

Consumers should:

• Read all AI-assisted output carefully
• Check facts against original documents
• Edit wording to ensure it reflects their true position
• Avoid copying text blindly

AI assistance is optional. It should support careful thinking, not replace it.

Purpose of this guidance

The aim of this guidance is not to discourage use of technology, but to promote safe, proportionate, and transparent use.

Responsible use of AI can assist consumers, but only where its limitations are clearly understood and respected.