Good Tasks, Risky Tasks, and Tasks to Avoid

Unit ID: AIT-M01-U02 Estimated active time: 15-20 minutes

Not every task is a good AI task

AI tools are useful, but they are not equally useful for every task.

In this course, we will sort tasks into three groups:

1. Good fit.
2. Careful use.
3. Avoid or use only with approved expert review.

This sorting habit protects you from using AI just because it is available.

Good fit

A task is usually a good fit when:

• the risk is low;
• the information is not private;
• the output is a draft, outline, checklist, summary, or set of options;
• you can review the result yourself;
• mistakes are easy to catch and correct.

Examples:

• Make a first outline for a study plan.
• Rewrite a safe sample paragraph in simpler English.
• Create a checklist for packing workshop materials.
• Turn your own nonsensitive notes into action items.
• Suggest questions to ask before a meeting.

These tasks still need review, but the risk is manageable.

Careful use

A task needs careful use when:

• the output may influence another person;
• facts, numbers, or claims matter;
• the message represents an organisation;
• the task includes business, academic, or professional judgement;
• the tool may not know enough context.

Examples:

• Draft a customer email.
• Summarise a policy document.
• Prepare a research comparison.
• Explain a spreadsheet result.
• Write a presentation for a real audience.

These tasks can use AI, but only with checking. You may need source verification, manager review, or expert input.

Avoid or use only with approved expert review

Some tasks should not be given to a general AI tool, or should be handled only inside an approved process.

Avoid tasks involving:

• legal advice;
• medical advice;
• financial advice;
• hiring, firing, grading, lending, housing, or other important decisions about people;
• confidential business documents;
• private personal data;
• passwords, keys, or secrets;
• sensitive customer, student, patient, employee, or client information.

The issue is not only whether the tool can write something. The issue is whether it is appropriate, permitted, safe, and reviewable.

The simple question

Before using AI, ask:

If this goes wrong, who could be affected?

If the answer is "nobody much", the task may be low risk.

If the answer is "a customer, student, patient, employee, applicant, client, or member of the public", slow down. You may need human review, policy approval, or no AI use.

Quick practice

Sort these tasks:

1. Create a personal study checklist.
2. Decide whether a job applicant should be rejected.
3. Rewrite a public event description in simpler English.
4. Summarise a confidential client contract.
5. Draft a meeting agenda from nonsensitive notes.

Use good fit, careful use, or avoid/approved expert review.

Then write one reason for each choice.