Approve Tools as of Sept 2024

Tool Selection Considerations

• Ease of Use
• Privacy & client information confidentiality 
• Utility

Suspended AI Tools

Fireflies.ai

• As of September 24, 2024, SCORE HQ will suspend using Fireflies.ai due to several significant concerns:

  1. Privacy issues: The app raises substantial privacy concerns, particularly given its automatic integration into users' accounts.

  2. Lack of user control: There is no straightforward way for users to modify the app's settings, limiting their ability to manage their privacy and preferences.

  3. Non-consensual installation: The Google Calendar app may integrate the Fireflies.ai app into users' accounts through an automated process. This integration can occur without explicit user consent or notification. Users might also unintentionally add the app without fully comprehending its data usage implications. This automated addition raises questions about user awareness and control over third-party app integrations.

  4. Difficulty in removal: Once installed, the app is challenging to remove from user accounts. This persistence exacerbates privacy and control issues, as users cannot easily opt out if they are uncomfortable with the app's presence or functionality.

• These factors collectively present a significant risk to user privacy and autonomy. By blocking the Fireflies.ai app, SCORE aims to protect its users from potential privacy breaches and ensure they maintain control over the tools and features integrated into their Google Calendar accounts.
• As a reminder, always use your SCORE (SVO) email whenever conducting SCORE business.

Otter.ai

• As of July 19, 2023 SCORE HQ has suspended the use of Otter.ai and disconnected it from SCORE Zoom accounts. This was done primarily due to data privacy concerns, and the spread of the application to other users within meetings who did not consent to recordings. 

For all resources and tools, SCORE volunteers should not share client data with third-party vendors unless the client has opted in or provided written consent. If a mentor gets written consent from a client and uploads that consent to the client profile on Engage, they can use the tool accordingly. 

**Volunteers should always follow SCORE's best practice guide, Best Practice Guide for Recording Meetings – Support Center (score.org), and announce that the meeting transcript will be recorded at the start of the meeting.**

If you have questions or want to request an exception to use Otter.ai or similar tools, please contact help@score.org. 

Relevant Resources:

AI at SCORE - View this Lifelong Learning session; held on October 26, 2023 at 12pm ET