Artificial intelligence is reshaping business at a pace not seen since the rise of the internet. What was once experimental has become essential, and nearly every company is now grappling with how to use, manage, or respond to AI in some form. The implications are enormous, affecting everything from how data is collected to how decisions are made.
At Arkline, we believe that every business leader and attorney needs to understand AI, not just as a technology but as a system that creates new kinds of legal and strategic risk. The more we learn now, the better prepared we will be to make smart, defensible decisions as this technology continues to evolve.
Search for “AI contracts” online and you will find endless ads for tools that help lawyers draft faster. That is not what we are talking about. When Arkline talks about AI contracts, we mean the agreements that govern how AI systems are built, trained, deployed, and maintained. These are contracts about AI, not contracts that simply use AI somewhere in the process.
The distinction matters. Contracts about AI determine who owns the data, who bears responsibility if the system causes harm, how bias will be managed, and whether you have a clear path out if the technology stops working for your business. These are not technical fine points; they are core business risks that affect reputation, customers, and profitability.
Through our work with clients, we have seen that most companies adopting AI are doing so without a solid legal framework. Many are signing agreements adapted from traditional SaaS templates that do not address the unique risks AI introduces. Questions about data rights, privacy, and performance standards require more than boilerplate terms. Too often, businesses give away valuable control over their data or accept performance promises no AI system can realistically meet.
The difference is significant, and the risks are real. In later articles, we will explore these issues in depth and share practical ways to structure AI relationships more safely and strategically.
At Arkline, our goal is not only to manage the legal side of AI but also to help businesses understand it. We are committed to providing insight into what questions to ask, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to build durable, forward-looking AI agreements. The pace of change is overwhelming, and the laws cannot keep up. The decisions made today will define who controls data, who bears risk, and who remains adaptable as technology continues to evolve.
If your business is building, integrating, or using AI, now is the time to learn how it truly works and what it means legally. Arkline will continue leading that conversation, helping our clients and communities approach AI with clarity, confidence, and foresight.
