Page 9 - EngineerIT June July Issue 2026

AI GOVERNANCE

The reality of shadow AI Instead of opening a blank document and starting from scratch,
Many organisations still believe policies alone can employees begin with a conversation. The AI helps surface
control AI usage. However, Moyal offers a different information, identify previous work and accelerate routine tasks.
perspective. "If you have a task to do at work and
you're under pressure, or you know you can do a “It’s meant to be a co-worker, not a replacement worker. This
better job with ChatGPT, you're probably going to stimulates the ‘aha moments’ that organisations need if they
use it,” he says. want to realise meaningful productivity gains,” he stresses.

“The bulk of employees will already be familiar Human judgement remains central
with AI through their personal lives. They know Amid all the excitement surrounding AI, Moyal reminds us that,
it works. They know it saves time. The result is a while these tools are incredibly powerful, accountability stays
growing disconnect between official policy and with the humans, and the responsibility does not disappear when
actual behaviour.” an AI drafts a report, generates a proposal or recommends a
course of action.
A global study found that around 70% of employees
use personal AI assistants because they find them As organisations race to adopt AI, the winners will not
useful. Moyal highlights that prohibiting usage necessarily be those with access to the most advanced
would likely be counterproductive – or even more technology. They will be the organisations that understand their
damaging. He cautions: own processes, manage their data effectively and maintain
clear lines of accountability.
"If you don't give them the tools to use, they will
find a way to use other tools that are useful. We AI is proving to be a powerful accelerator. The question is, what
should be making compliance easier than non- exactly it is accelerating.
compliance.”

AI is not the problem
Perhaps Moyal's most compelling point is that AI is
often blamed for problems it did not create.

Poorly organised data, weak governance, unclear
workflows and incomplete information were
challenges long before large language models
arrived. AI simply makes them impossible to ignore.

"If the systems cannot control or recognise
sensitive information as opposed to what is not,
then you're going to have challenges even before
you're using AI," he says. "AI will just amplify the
problem. AI is really good at chasing a goal. It
will do what you tell it, but not necessarily what
you meant." General purpose,
side-entry velocity transducer
Moyal’s observation may just cut to the heart with dual independent
4-20mA outputs. Made
of why some AI projects inevitably disappoint. MSV Instrumentation & Supplies (PTY) LTD
from robust stainless steel
The technology may be functioning exactly as is a proud distributor of Monitran products
throughout for continuous
designed, but it is being hampered by vague vibration monitoring in in South Africa.
objectives, incomplete data or poorly defined harsh environments. Internal As specialists in instrumentation and
electronics are enclosed in condition monitoring solutions, we
processes.
a Faraday cage and isolated are committed to supplying reliable,
to minimise noise. Sealed to high-quality products that enhance
The co-worker model IP65 with industry standard plant performance, improve predictive
Moyal is particularly interested in what happens 4-20mA outputs proportional maintenance, and reduce downtime across
when organisations move beyond seeing AI to velocity and temperature various industries.
range that can connect
as a replacement tool. He describes emerging For more information on the Monitran
directly to PLC, DCS and other range and tailored condition monitoring
platforms such as Microsoft’s Copilot as examples
industrial controllers. Includes solutions, contact us today.
of a fundamentally different way of working. integral stainless steel
overbraided ETFE cable and m sales@msvinstrumentation.co.za
M8 mounting bolt. N 087 822 1645.
9 | EngineerIT June/July 2026