Lindsay Castro Building AI Governance That People Will Actually Follow

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Jim sits down with Lindsay Castro, General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources at HCM Unlocked, to talk about how organizations can build AI governance that employees can understand and use in practice.Lindsay explains why AI tools will continue moving faster than policies, regulations, and legal precedent. Instead of freezing or banning every new tool, she recommends starting with an inventory of how AI is already being used, assessing the data and platform risks, and giving employees clear examples of what is and is not allowed.The conversation covers confidential information, human review, discoverability, vendor contracts, embedded AI features, biometric data, and the risks of allowing AI-generated recommendations to influence people's decisions without proper oversight. Lindsay also shares how HCM Unlocked uses cross-functional ownership, tiered risk assessments, approved-platform controls, and employee feedback to govern new AI tools.The central takeaway is that a policy alone is not governance. Organizations need clear ownership, a repeatable approval process, employee education, and a living playbook that can change as technology, business needs, and legal requirements evolve.Topics Discussed:Why AI tools are moving faster than policy and legal precedentHow to inventory the AI tools employees and clients are already usingWhy leaders should learn the tools before setting employee rulesThe baseline rule for keeping confidential and client data out of public AI systemsHow human review prevents confident but inaccurate AI output from becoming a business decisionWhat to evaluate when approving AI platforms and recording toolsHow retention, discoverability, privacy, and vendor contracts affect AI riskWhy embedded AI features can create new exposure inside existing HR systemsHow legal, HR, technology, and employees can share responsibility for AI governanceHow tiered risk assessments and approval workflows control new AI toolsWhat organizations should do when AI adoption starts from the bottom upWhy an AI playbook must remain a living documentIf you are an HR, legal, compliance, or technology leader trying to support responsible AI use without stopping experimentation, this episode offers a practical framework for creating guardrails people can actually follow.Additional Resources:Cleary's AI-powered HR ChatbotFuture Proof HR CommunityConnect with Lindsay Castro on LinkedIn