---
title: "In safe hands with AI: free guides for board directors"
source: https://steadman.ai/in-safe-hands-with-ai
published: 2026-10-28
summary: Three free one-page guides from Steadman for board directors using AI, with general guidance for any tool and ten-minute privacy set-up guides for Claude and ChatGPT, each set-up guide with a short film.
---

# In safe hands with AI

*Free guides for board directors.*

Three one-page guides for using AI with confidence and keeping what matters private. Start with the first, then set up the tool you use.

Each set-up guide has a short film that walks through the same steps, so read the page or watch the film, whichever suits you. Prepared by Ginny Lavers, Steadman. The films are narrated by an AI version of David Boyle's voice.

## In safe hands with AI

*Start here, any AI tool.*

Why directors use AI, four principles, what good practice looks like for board work, your own development and personal productivity, and three questions to ask your company secretary first.

- [Download the PDF](/downloads/in-safe-hands-with-ai/in-safe-hands-with-ai.pdf) (one A4 page, ready to print)

### Three questions to ask first, for board work

1. Does the company have an AI policy, and does it cover board directors?
2. Is there an AI tool the board has approved for board work?
3. Are the privacy settings already looked after for me, or do I need to set them up myself?

## Set up Claude with privacy in mind

*Safe set-up guide: Claude.*

Four checks, about ten minutes: stop your chats training the AI, decide what Claude remembers, use incognito for private questions, and connect email with care.

- [Download the PDF](/downloads/in-safe-hands-with-ai/set-up-claude.pdf) (one A4 page, ready to print)
- [Watch the film](https://media.steadman.ai/guides/in-safe-hands-with-ai/claude-set-up.mp4): the same steps, about two and a half minutes, with sound and subtitles

## Set up ChatGPT with privacy in mind

*Safe set-up guide: ChatGPT.*

The same four checks for ChatGPT: the training switch, memory, Temporary Chat, and plugin permissions.

- [Download the PDF](/downloads/in-safe-hands-with-ai/set-up-chatgpt.pdf) (one A4 page, ready to print)
- [Watch the film](https://media.steadman.ai/guides/in-safe-hands-with-ai/chatgpt-set-up.mp4): the same steps, about three minutes, with sound and subtitles

## Two things to know

- We checked the steps on 26th October 2026 on paid personal plans, in a web browser. Menus may look different on other plans and change over time, so check them against your own screen.
- These settings reduce risk. They don't make a personal account an approved place for confidential board or company information.

## Want a hand?

We run personal and small-group sessions for directors who want help setting up and using AI day to day, and advise boards and companies on AI strategy, tools and ways of working. Email [hello@steadman.ai](mailto:hello@steadman.ai).