Is AI Safe for Automating Workflows? Here’s What You Need to Know

Recently, someone asked me: “Is AI safe to use for automating information extraction, especially in Google Workspace?” My short answer: Yes—if you control how it’s built.

When using AI with products like Google Colab, you’re operating within a trusted environment. If your organization already uses Google, then Colab is just as safe as the rest of your workspace—as long as you’re mindful of how you integrate AI.

The real risk isn’t AI itself. It’s the scripts you use to tell AI what to do.

What Is a Script, and Why Does It Matter?

A script (or code) is a set of instructions that tells AI how to process data, extract insights, or automate tasks. Whether you’re summarizing research documents, pulling metadata, or recommending articles, it all comes down to writing clear instructions.

The challenge? Not all scripts are safe. 🚨

There are tons of AI automation scripts floating around the internet. Some are useful, but copying-and-pasting scripts that haven’t been vetted, they could:

• Expose sensitive data

  • Send unauthorized requests

    • Misuse AI in ways you don’t intend

For institutions like universities, government agencies, or research groups, random scripts aren’t an option.

The Better Approach: Build & Fine-Tune Your Own Scripts

Rather than relying on pre-made scripts, in my opinion, it’s safer (and smarter) to write your own in a controlled environment like Google Colab or another sandboxed system.

Why?

• You define exactly what AI does

• You can debug and fine-tune responses

• You ensure compliance with data security policies

For example, let’s say you want AI to:

• Recommend articles based on a document’s content

• Extract key insights from thousands of pages

• Classify metadata into structured categories

To get AI to do this correctly, you’ll need precise instructions—which means testing, adjusting, and refining the script.

Think of it like training a new team member. If you give vague instructions, the results will be inconsistent. But if you spend time teaching the right way to do things, you get reliable results.

The Payoff: A Custom AI Model That Works for You

Once you fine-tune a script, it becomes a reusable AI model—one that automates workflows safely and efficiently.

If this is new to your organization or team, it might seem time-consuming at first. But over time, as you build experience, you start to understand the nuances of these scripts. What once took hours to troubleshoot becomes second nature. The more you do it, the faster and more efficient you become.

That’s why I prefer building from the ground up. It’s an investment, but once it’s working? You’ve built something powerful and secure.