Chamber AI Policies

Balancing Curiosity and Caution


AI Adoption Outpaces Policies

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved from a mere buzzword to an everyday tool in the chamber industry. According to a Chamber Pulse Survey conducted by ACCE, 94% of chamber professionals use AI tools at least once a week on the job.

AI tools are becoming more ubiquitous, but governance is still complicated. Only one in 10 chamber professionals say that their organization has a documented policy on AI usage.

Looking beyond chambers, many U.S. employees are navigating unclear company policies around AI. This lack of clarity comes at a concerning cost; 57% of employees recently surveyed admit to using AI in ways that violate company policies.

AI tools can enhance operations, improve member communication and broaden chambers’ range of services, but they also raise concerns about accuracy, privacy and trust. With technology advancing faster than policies, chambers have the opportunity to lead by example. Below, three chamber leaders share their perspectives on AI and how it is being integrated into their organizations.

Balancing Curiosity and Caution

Kathy McLees, chief information officer at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) (Wis.), has had a front-row seat to AI’s evolution and influence on the chamber industry. “It has been exciting and a little humbling to be in this role as AI is taking off,” she shared.

She also empathized with the skepticism around emerging technologies. “Both reactions make complete sense. AI is powerful, and like any tool, it needs to be used thoughtfully and responsibly.”

Allie Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce (Md.), shared a similar perspective. “We approach AI with both excitement and a healthy dose of caution.”  AI can open up new possibilities for how chambers serve their members, but concerns around misinformation, bias and privacy linger. “We see its potential but we are also aware of the risks,” he added.

Despite the challenges, chambers need to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. Laura Wiegert, executive vice president of marketing and events at the Fox Cities Chamber (Wis.), shared, “One of our board members said it best. He compares the AI revolution to the launch of the internet. You either need to get on board or be left behind.”

McLees agreed, “It’s not just about keeping up, it’s about staying relevant and helping our communities thrive.”

The Push for Policies

In the Fox Cities, the chamber started its AI journey with internal conversations about how it was transforming the world and the way organizations do business.

“As a membership organization, it is our responsibility to anticipate trends that will shape our future,” Wiegert said. “We want to serve as a connector between businesses, tech experts and educational institutions to promote AI understanding and implementation at all levels.”

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into chambers’ daily work, it is essential to establish policies that outline the appropriate use of these tools. Wiegert added, “As staff began experimenting with AI, we realized we needed shared expectations around ethical, secure and effective use.”

The Greater Bethesda Chamber was also on the forefront of AI policies. Williams highlighted the chamber’s proactive approach, “We could see that AI was going to touch every aspect of how organizations operate and we wanted to get ahead of it. Having one of the first documented AI policies in our industry was our way of showing leadership.”

But the chamber did not adopt an AI policy just for the sake of having one. “It was about making sure AI is helping us do our jobs better in a way that is consistent with our mission, our values and our commitment to our members,” said Williams.

Building Guardrails

To create its AI policy, the Greater Bethesda Chamber took a collaborative approach. “We knew we couldn’t—and shouldn’t—build this in a bubble,” Williams shared. The chamber sought legal counsel, reviewed policies from other businesses and nonprofit organizations and gained insights from its board of directors.

The policy became a living document that provides clear guidance but can evolve as technology does. He added, “The goal was to create something practical and approachable that gives our staff confidence in using AI tools.”

MMAC published its first AI policy earlier this year and is preparing to craft the next iteration. While useful, the organization recognized that the initial version was too high-level and had quickly become outdated. “Our goal now is to make it more practical so everyone feels confident applying it,” said McLees.

McLees shared that the number one component of the policy is data security and privacy. MMAC’s guiding principle for staff is that if they wouldn’t want it showing up in the news, they shouldn’t put it into AI. “That helps people think twice before sharing anything sensitive,” she added.

The Fox Cities Chamber echoed this. “Member trust is everything to us. Our guidelines focus heavily on data privacy and confidentiality,” said Wiegert. The chamber’s AI usage guidelines are fluid, but provide the necessary guardrails to protect the organization, its staff and its members.

One critical safeguard is verifying AI-generated content. “We made it clear that human oversight is non-negotiable,” Wiegert shared. While AI tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, chambers must still review their outputs for hallucinations and misinformation.

“Just because something looks polished doesn’t mean it is accurate. AI should support our thinking, not replace it,” advised McLees.

Staff Buy-In

If leaders worry that AI policies will stifle creativity, staff response has proven the opposite. “Our team has really embraced it,” Williams shared.

The Greater Bethesda Chamber is harnessing AI for a range of tasks—drafting communications, summarizing complex legislation, compiling research, brainstorming ideas for events and programming and even assisting with marketing content. “Having a clear policy has actually made people more comfortable experimenting with AI because they know the boundaries and expectations,” he added.

Staff response in the Fox Cities has also been positive. “The guidelines gave them the confidence to explore AI tools without fear of ‘doing it wrong,’” said Wiegert. AI is also a standing topic in staff meetings so the team can share its ideas, successes and learnings with one another.

Successful policies stem from strong organizational cultures. “I am fortunate to work at MMAC where there is real support for exploration and innovation. That flexibility has allowed me to test ideas and help our staff grow,” said McLees.

Wiegert noted that embracing AI starts at the top. “Our CEO is a strong user and advocate for adopting AI internally as well as helping our members embrace it. This sets the tone.”

Beyond the Chamber Walls

AI’s influence on the chamber industry is just beginning. It can personalize member outreach, sharpen data analysis, forecast trends and free up staff time for deeper strategic work. It is also becoming more embedded into association management systems and other tools chambers rely on to operate. But, there is more to AI than internal efficiencies.

“We have a responsibility to help guide local businesses in learning how to use AI so they can stay competitive,” McLees said. “It is equally important to collaborate with local tech companies and educational institutions to share knowledge and ensure everyone in our region has a chance to keep up.”

Williams emphasized that no matter how advanced AI becomes, it must never replace the human element that is core to chambers. “By keeping people at the center of the work, we can take advantage of the efficiency AI offers while making sure the heart of what we do—personal relationships, advocacy, community?building—remains unchanged.”

Resources from ACCE

The strategic adoption of new technologies like AI is essential for chambers and their communities to remain relevant. Chambers must also ensure responsible and ethical use of these tools. Explore these resources from ACCE to guide your chamber’s approach to AI.

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