Legal

AI Use Policy

ClearEdge Market Intelligence LLC
Effective Date: May 2025 · Last Reviewed: May 2025

Our Commitment

At ClearEdge, we believe in being straightforward about how we work. Artificial intelligence tools are now part of our professional toolkit — and we think you deserve to know exactly how, when, and under what constraints we use them. This policy is our honest account of that.

1. How We Use AI

ClearEdge uses AI tools to support — not replace — the work of our research team. Specifically, we may use AI assistance in the following areas:

Research & Analysis

• Secondary research and information gathering (literature review, market data synthesis)
• Qualitative data analysis, including analysis of open-ended survey responses and interview themes
• Preliminary data pattern identification to inform deeper human-led analysis

Deliverable Development

• Drafting and editing written deliverables, including reports, summaries, and presentations
• Survey and questionnaire design assistance
• Data visualization suggestions and formatting

Internal Operations

• Internal communications, scheduling, and project management support
• Website content drafting and editing

AI is used as a productivity and quality tool. It does not conduct research independently, make strategic recommendations without human review, or interface directly with clients.

2. The Human-in-the-Loop Standard

This means:

• All AI-generated content is treated as a draft, not a final product
• Factual claims, data points, and citations are independently verified by our team
• Strategic conclusions and recommendations are developed and validated by ClearEdge researchers, not AI tools
• We take full professional responsibility for every deliverable we produce, regardless of the tools used in its creation

If something leaves our door with our name on it, a human signed off on it.

3. Which AI Tools We Use

ClearEdge primarily uses the following AI tools:

• Anthropic Claude — writing assistance, qualitative analysis support, document drafting
• Google Gemini — research support, drafting, internal operations
• Hostinger AI — website and business operations support

We evaluate AI tools for security, data handling practices, and fitness for professional use before adopting them. We do not use AI tools that lack clear data privacy policies or that use user inputs to train their models without explicit opt-out controls.

This list may be updated as tools evolve. If you have questions about a specific tool, ask us directly.

4. Client Data & Confidentiality

We take the handling of client data seriously. The following rules govern how AI tools interact with client information:

What we do not do

• We do not input proprietary, confidential, or sensitive client data into any AI tool
• We do not use AI tools to process personally identifiable information (PII) belonging to your customers or research participants
• We do not use AI-generated outputs based on your data to train or improve third-party AI models

What we may do, with care

• In limited circumstances, we may use non-proprietary client-provided data (such as previously collected interview transcripts or datasets from prior contractors) as input to support analysis — only when that information is not confidential in nature and its use has been disclosed to or agreed upon with the client
• When in doubt, we default to not using AI for any data that could be considered sensitive

If you have specific requirements about AI use in your engagement — including a preference that AI tools not be used at all — please let us know at the outset of your project. We will honor those requirements.

5. Accuracy & Limitations

AI tools can produce errors, outdated information, or plausible-sounding but inaccurate content. We are aware of these limitations and our verification process is designed to catch them. However, we want to be transparent:

• AI is one input in our research process, not the source of truth
• We do not rely on AI for legal, regulatory, or compliance determinations
• We do not present AI-generated content as primary research
• Where AI tools have assisted significantly in a deliverable, we are prepared to disclose this upon request

6. No AI-to-Client Interaction

ClearEdge does not use AI to communicate directly with clients on our behalf without disclosure. All client-facing communications — emails, calls, reports, presentations — are produced or reviewed by a ClearEdge team member before delivery.

7. Policy Updates

AI technology evolves quickly. We review this policy at least annually and update it when our tools or practices change in ways that are material to our clients. The effective date at the top of this page reflects the most recent review.

8. Questions?

If you have questions about our AI use practices — or specific requirements for your engagement — please contact us directly:

Christopher Frye, Principal Consultant
ClearEdge Market Intelligence LLC
Email: christopher@clearedge-market-intelligence.com
clearedge-market-intelligence.com/contact.html

This policy governs ClearEdge’s internal use of AI tools in client engagements. It is distinct from our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions, which govern data collection and the terms of our services respectively.