Michael Volkov examines why every organization needs a responsible AI use policy now, as employees adopt AI tools faster than companies can govern them. Drawing on court sanctions against lawyers for AI-fabricated citations, SEC “AI washing” enforcement actions, and data leaks into public chatbots, Michael explains that these failures stem from weak governance rather than weak technology. He highlights DOJ’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, which now asks how companies manage emerging-technology risks, along with the EU AI Act and new U.S. state rules. Michael then outlines eight essentials of an effective policy: controlling approved tools, classifying permitted, high-risk and prohibited uses, protecting data, keeping humans accountable, verifying outputs, ensuring transparency, governing third-party AI, and building a cross-functional governance structure. He closes by urging CCOs to lead the effort, embed AI in the enterprise risk assessment, and back the policy with training, monitoring and a speak-up channel.