AI is transforming how organisations operate, but alongside the opportunity comes real risk. In the latest episode of The AI Show South West podcast, hosts Matt Greaves and Shane Solomon sit down with Helen Wylde-Archibald to explore one of today’s most pressing leadership priorities: AI governance.
Helen brings years of experience from advanced technology, autonomous systems, digital innovation, and senior leadership roles across the UK. Her message is clear:
AI is no longer optional, but neither is governance.
Why AI Governance Matters – Even If You’re “Not Using AI Yet”
One of the first misconceptions Helen tackles is that governance only applies to businesses actively deploying AI. In reality, the opposite is also true.
Across the UK, many employees are already using AI tools informally to speed up research, draft content, or solve technical problems, often without any oversight or senior leaders knowing. Helen warns that this “bottom-up” adoption creates one of the biggest risks facing SMEs today: Shadow AI.
Without clear rules:
- Sensitive information can unintentionally leave the organisation
- GDPR breaches become more likely
- Inaccurate or unverified AI outputs may be used in decision-making
- Organisations lose control over where AI is being used and how
For Helen, this is exactly why a governance framework must come first, not after staff have already embedded AI into daily work.
The Role of an AI Governance Framework
In the episode, Helen explains how a well-designed governance framework should:
- Set clear rules for which AI tools staff can and cannot use
- Build guardrails that protect data, brand reputation, compliance, and customers
- Address organisational culture, not just technology
- Ensure human oversight, ethical alignment, and accountability
- Provide a foundation for innovation, not a barrier to it
- Assign responsibility through roles such as an AI Officer or an AI Governance Committee
- Enable continuous improvement through regular audits and reviews
Governance isn’t bureaucracy, it’s risk management and common-sense protection.
Unlocking the Upside: Productivity, Efficiency & Competitive Edge
While much of the conversation focuses on risk and responsibility, Helen is equally passionate about the upside. When AI is introduced safely and strategically:
- Teams reclaim meaningful amounts of time
- Customer service becomes faster and more consistent
- Decision-making improves through better insights
- Workflows become more efficient
- Organisations gain competitive advantage
- People enjoy their roles more, because admin isn’t slowing them down
Helen encourages leaders to think of AI as a collection of “digital apprentices” sitting behind them, tackling routine tasks and enabling them to focus on higher-value work . With the right guardrails, organisations can adopt AI confidently and creatively, not cautiously or reactively.
Why the South West Must Not Be Left Behind
A recurring theme across the episode is the opportunity for the South West. Helen reflects on the region’s creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.
However, there is a genuine risk: If SMEs across the South West delay AI adoption, the region could fall behind the rest of the UK.
Helen’s vision is clear: give local organisations the knowledge, tools, and governance they need, and the South West can turn AI into a springboard for innovation, job creation, and long-term growth.
A Final Message for Leaders
The episode closes with a reminder:
The only organisations that lose out with AI will be the ones that fail to adopt it.
With the right governance in place, AI becomes not a risk — but an accelerator.