AI Can Do a Lot. It Shouldn’t Do Everything.
Ask a room full of business owners whether they’re using AI and most hands go up. Ask whether they have a plan for it and the room gets a lot quieter.
That’s what we’re seeing across Howard County. Companies are experimenting with AI for research, drafting, data analysis, marketing and customer insights. The ones getting the most value aren’t using AI for AI’s sake. They start with a business problem: Where are we spending too much time? Where is the work repetitive? Where could better information help us decide?
The harder part is moving from individual experimentation to an organizational strategy. Many employees are already using AI on their own, while leadership teams are still working through data security, accuracy, governance and where human review needs to stay. Handing everyone a login isn’t a strategy. Redesigning how work gets done is.
Maryland sets the tone
On September 22, Governor Wes Moore announced a statewide AI framework focused on protecting residents, preparing workers and keeping children safe. Legislative recommendations are expected when the General Assembly convenes in January.
The key message for business: existing law already applies. The state is clarifying how civil rights, consumer protection, employment and housing laws cover decisions made with AI, with guidance coming on employment, housing and lending. And the framework is clear that AI shouldn’t decide who gets a loan, a home or a benefit without accountability and a person in the loop.
Where the human stays
We’d offer a simple rule of thumb. The closer a decision gets to someone’s livelihood, rights, finances or access to an opportunity, the more human judgment matters. Hiring, firing, promotions and lending are the obvious examples.
It goes beyond compliance. When an employee is struggling, a customer has a serious problem or a business owner is facing a challenge, efficiency isn’t the only goal. People want to know someone understands their situation and is accountable for helping. AI can give that person better information and more time for the relationship. It shouldn’t replace the relationship.
Practicing what we preach
We’re applying the same thinking at HCEDA. We’re a small team serving a large, diverse business community, so tools that help us analyze information, prepare research and cut administrative work are valuable. The goal isn’t to automate our relationships with businesses. It’s almost the opposite: less time on paperwork means more time visiting companies and connecting them with the right partners.
Howard County is also well positioned for this moment. Our proximity to Johns Hopkins APL, Fort Meade and NSA has built a deep base of cyber and technical talent, and companies like IronCircle, an AI cybersecurity workforce platform bringing more than 200 jobs to Downtown Columbia, are choosing to grow here.
Five things your business can do now
- Take inventory of every AI tool your team uses.
- Start with the problem, not the tool.
- Flag decisions that affect people, like hiring, pricing and eligibility.
- Name a human owner for each one.
- Write it down in a one-page AI policy.
- Most of Howard County’s roughly 12,000 employers don’t have a compliance department. You don’t need one. This is a few meetings and a shared document.
The bottom line