Barbara Bennett Talks AI Risks and Governance on Nashville Post’s Innovation & Ideas Panel

Frost Brown Todd Partner Barbara Bennett was a featured guest on the Nashville Post's Innovation & Ideas series during a special Aug. 2025 panel focused on innovative and responsible AI applications in both the public and private sectors. Joining Bennett on the "Innovation & Ideas: Technology" panel were Tennessee Chief Information Officer Kristin Darby, Nashville Technology Council CEO Mark Blaze, and Nashville Post Editor-in-Chief Nicolle Praino (moderator).

During the panel, Bennett discusses the common misperception that AI is too novel or complex to be governed by existing legal frameworks. She contested that belief, emphasizing that while AI does present unique challenges, it is not beyond the reach of traditional governance and risk management strategies.

"We pretty much know what the risks are," Bennett explains. "All the existing laws and all the developing laws coalesce around about five principles." These AI risks, in Bennett's view, can be segmented into areas such as privacy and data security, bias and discrimination, accountability, accuracy, and transparency.

"[T]hose five principles can really give guidance to companies to identify risks and then manage those risks using traditional risk management principles," Bennett adds. "I think it's scalable. I think it's doable. And so companies right now can begin to set up an infrastructure or program that will adapt with the development of AI going forward."

Bennett expresses optimism in businesses' ability to keep pace with AI's rapid development. She cautioned against the kind of defeatist thinking that leads to inaction, advocating instead for proactive governance rooted in diligence and foresight.

A full recording of this panel is available to stream here.