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Establishing Guardrails on the AI Roller Coaster

In this audio edition of the September 2026 briefing, we discuss the four domains where guardrails can enable organizations to implement AI faster and more safely.
Abstract

A surge of energy, investment, and optimism is driving organizations to adopt artificial intelligence (AI). However, these efforts carry risks, including wasted resources from redundant investments and added operational complexity and costs. Like a roller coaster, AI initiatives require carefully designed safeguards to move fast but avoid calamity. As these initiatives proliferate throughout the organization, implementing unique controls for every AI application becomes unsustainable. Drawing on interviews, this briefing identifies four domains where guardrails matter most for managing AI and effective controls, illustrated by a case vignette about fintech Tunic Pay.

The September 2026 research briefing is read by author Alan Thorogood.

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© 2026 MIT Center for Information Systems Research, Thorogood, Reynolds, and Gill. MIT CISR Research Briefings are published monthly to update the center’s member organizations on current research projects.

About the Researchers

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Peter Reynolds, Industry Research Fellow, MIT CISR

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Asif Gill, Professor and Researcher, School of Computer Science, University of Technology Sydney and Research Collaborator, MIT CISR

MIT CENTER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH (CISR)

Founded in 1974 and grounded in MIT's tradition of combining academic knowledge and practical purpose, MIT CISR helps executives meet the challenge of leading increasingly digital and data-driven organizations. We work directly with digital leaders, executives, and boards to develop our insights. Our research is funded by member organizations that support our work and participate in our consortium. 

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