2026 is the year AI stopped just talking and started doing. OpenAI’s Dots and Meta’s Muse can browse websites, read your email, fill out forms and spend money for you. That’s a huge time saver, if you set them up carefully. Here are six rules we follow at the station.
1. Start read-only
Give a new agent research and summary jobs first: “find the three cheapest flights,” “summarize these reviews,” “list my upcoming bills.” Let it prove itself before it’s allowed to send, buy or delete anything.
2. Keep approvals on
Most agents can ask before taking an action like sending a message or making a purchase. Leave that switch on. One tap to approve is worth it.
3. Use a separate card
Never give an agent your main credit card. Use a virtual card, a prepaid card or a card with a low limit. Many Canadian banks and fintech apps let you create virtual card numbers you can lock or delete anytime.
4. Use a separate email
Your main inbox holds years of private messages: banking, health, clients, family. Create a separate email for shopping, subscriptions and sign-ups, and connect only that one. Once an agent can read your inbox, it can read the past too.
5. Check permissions every month
Open the agent’s settings and look at what it’s connected to. Remove anything you’re not using. Also check your Google, Microsoft or Apple account’s “connected apps” page and revoke old access.
6. Never let it handle other people’s private info
If you run a business, your inbox includes customers’ names, addresses and sometimes payment details. Under Canadian privacy law, you’re responsible for protecting that. Keep agents away from business inboxes until you’ve checked how the tool stores and uses data.
The short version
Read-only first. Approvals on. Separate card. Separate email. Review monthly. Keep customer data out.
This is general information, not security or legal advice. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by Media Station. Disclosure.