Friday the 13th: Superstitions, Hollywood Thrills, and Lessons for Data Management in Regulated Industries
By Andrew Turner, GM and Chair of Advisory Board, Praxi.ai
Friday the 13th. Even as grown-ups grounded in rational business thinking, there’s something about the date that evokes a little twinge of superstition. For those of us working in regulated industries - insurance, FinTech, and healthcare - this day brings to mind a subtle sense of caution. After all, our worlds are about managing risk, ensuring trust, and protecting customers. The day’s mystique might prompt a few nervous chuckles, but it also offers a chance to reflect on our responsibilities in an era increasingly defined by artificial intelligence and generative AI (GenAI).
From Hollywood Haunts to Boardroom Realities
We’ve all experienced it: the slow creak of a door in a horror movie, the jump scare just when you least expect it. Friday the 13th itself inspired a series of Hollywood slasher films that, while pure fiction, encapsulate the idea that fear often emerges from what we can’t see or understand. In the regulated business world, fear can stem from unseen vulnerabilities - like unsecure data systems and AI “black boxes” whose logic is as mysterious as the abandoned cabins in those spooky flicks.
Then there are stories and novels that plant similar seeds of anxiety. Michael Crichton’s “Disclosure” offered early insights into the hidden landmines of technology in the workplace. The countless healthcare dramas - from soap operas to bestsellers - warn us that behind every patient record lies a story that must be guarded with utmost care. The common thread? Uncertainty and complexity can conjure “monsters” in our data ecosystems when left unchecked.
Why We Should Embrace the Spookiness
It may seem odd to embrace a day shadowed by superstition, but there’s a valuable lesson in acknowledging our fears. This extends to the data we handle and the AI tools we deploy. Some of the current hesitation around AI - especially in sensitive industries like insurance, FinTech, and healthcare - echoes the anxiety we might feel when a soundtrack crescendos ominously on screen. It’s the fear of not knowing what comes next.
But unlike fictional characters who run blindly into the woods, we have the power to illuminate the dark corners of our data strategy. With the right governance, transparency, and control, we can ensure that our AI systems are less “scary movie” and more “reassuring documentary.”
Building Trust with Better Data Practices
1. Shine a Light on Your Data:
In horror stories, chaos thrives in darkness. In the corporate world, vulnerabilities thrive where data is hidden or poorly understood. Map your data sources, classify them according to sensitivity and compliance requirements, and maintain thorough documentation. Transparency is the guiding lantern that shows you where dangers might lurk.
2. Practice Rigorous Governance:
Just as we keep garlic and crucifixes handy for mythical horrors (or at least the literary ones), we need policies and guardrails for real-world risks. Formal data governance frameworks ensure that only the right people have access to the right data at the right time. In regulated industries, where compliance is non-negotiable, governance is your suit of armor.
3. Tame the AI “Beast” with Explainability:
One of the creepiest tropes in any scary story is the unknown force controlling events. In AI, that’s the black box—models that provide outcomes with little insight into how they got there. The solution? Aim for explainability. Work with vendors and internal teams to select AI systems that can clearly articulate their decision-making. When stakeholders understand AI logic, trust replaces fear.
4. Fortify Your Cyber Defenses:
Hollywood loves the “unseen antagonist.” In data terms, that’s the cybercriminal lurking behind unseen vulnerabilities. Strengthening encryption, continuously monitoring your systems, and training staff to recognize phishing attempts are real-world measures that ensure your story ends without a villain seizing your customers’ precious data.
5. Embrace Incremental Adoption of GenAI:
If you’re anxious about GenAI, treat it as you would any new character in a suspenseful plot: introduce it slowly, let it prove its trustworthiness. Start with non-critical tasks, measure performance, and gradually expand its role. Trust, once earned, transforms potential horror into a business advantage.
A Hopeful Ending
Unlike the films that made Friday the 13th famous, our narrative needn’t end in calamity. The date is just a date - yet it’s a timely reminder to re-examine the stories we tell ourselves about technology and risk.
We have the tools and strategies to ensure that data and AI aren’t the lurking terrors in the woods, but rather trusted partners in our continued growth and innovation. By shining a light on our data, implementing robust governance, and keeping a watchful eye on AI’s transparency, we can give our organizations a “happily ever after.” In these times of rapid technological acceleration, that’s the tale we all deserve.
