AI policy
Last updated October 2026.
AI is now built into most of the software small businesses use every day, including email, calendars, documents and design tools. This page explains how I use it, where I don't, and how your information is protected either way.
What I use AI for
I use a small number of AI tools, chosen carefully, to help with:
- early research and pulling information together
- first drafts of written material, such as emails, social posts, blogs and documents
- checking and tidying technical work, such as spreadsheets, settings and code
- images, only where you have asked for them and the tool's licence allows that use
If you would like to know which tools I use, for your work, for other clients or in my own business, just ask and I'll tell you.
A real person checks everything
AI helps me work faster. It doesn't replace my knowledge, judgement or experience. Anything an AI tool helps produce is checked, corrected and finished by me before it reaches you, and you still get the final say before anything is used or published.
Running my own business
I run Virtually Rory on mainstream platforms, such as Google Workspace, that now include AI features. Those features run under the same privacy and security terms as the rest of the platform, and your information stays within my account.
If I learn of a security problem with any platform I use that could affect your information, I'll tell you as soon as I know.
Your personal data
I don't put personal data into any AI tool that uses it to train its models or shares it with anyone else. Where a tool lets me switch off training on my data, I switch it off.
Personal data you share with me, including information about your customers, is only handled in the platforms set out in our data processing agreement, or as you otherwise agree in writing.
Confidential information
I won't put your confidential information into any AI tool unless we have talked about it and you have agreed first.
Your platforms and accounts
When you give me access to your own systems, any AI built into them or connected to them is part of your set-up, not mine. You remain responsible for its security, its settings and the reliability of what it produces. I'll always flag anything that looks wrong to me.
Copyright
Content produced with AI may not carry copyright in the same way as work created entirely by a person, and material put into some AI tools can be used to train them. I keep that in mind when choosing what to put into a tool.
Where a tool's terms give me the rights in what it produces, I pass those rights to you along with the rest of the work, in line with my Terms of Business.
Keeping this up to date
AI changes quickly, and so do its benefits and risks. I review this policy regularly and will update this page when anything changes.
I will never knowingly use AI in a way that breaks my contract with you, my privacy policy or our data processing agreement. If you have a question or a concern about any of this, please get in touch.