Our Commitment

Chocolat-e uses artificial intelligence tools to support — not replace — the human craft, ethical sourcing, and authentic relationships at the heart of our business. As a B Corp, we must ensure our use of AI reflects our values of transparency, equity, and accountability to all stakeholders: our customers, cacao farming communities, partners, and the planet.

How We Use AI

AI currently supports three areas of our operations:

• Marketing & LinkedIn Content — drafting and refining communications about our chocolate, terroir, and B Corp mission. All published content is reviewed and approved by a human team member.
• Operations, Compliance & B Corp Documentation — supporting carbon tracking, supplier reporting, community purchasing records, and certification materials. Final documents are verified for accuracy prior to submission.
• Customer Communications — assisting with response drafting and outreach. All customer-facing messages are reviewed before sending.

Tool Selection Standards

Chocolat-e is highly selective about which AI tools we adopt. We evaluate each tool against our core values before use, and will only work with AI providers that demonstrate a genuine commitment to responsible development — not just in policy language, but in action.

Specifically, we require that any AI tool we use:

• Maintains firm, transparent guardrails that prioritize human well-being over commercial gain — we will not use AI platforms whose design or business model places profit over people.
• Has a clearly articulated and enforced ethical framework that governs how the technology is developed, trained, and deployed.
• Respects user privacy and does not exploit personal or business data for commercial purposes beyond the stated use.
• Demonstrates accountability through published policies, third-party audits, or other transparency measures.

Why We Use Anthropic’s Claude

Our primary AI tool is Claude, developed by Anthropic — a company whose stated mission is the responsible development of AI for humanity’s long-term benefit. We chose Anthropic not only for its capabilities but also for its actions, which have demonstrated a willingness to put principle before profit.

In February 2026, Anthropic chose to walk away from a $200 million U.S. Department of Defense contract rather than remove guardrails that prohibit Claude’s use in mass domestic surveillance of American citizens or in fully autonomous weapon systems. Facing threats of government sanctions and designation as a “supply chain risk,” Anthropic held firm, stating: “No amount of intimidation or punishment will change our position.” This is the kind of values-in-action that Chocolat-e looks for in its partners and suppliers — and that applies equally to the technology tools we choose.

We reserve the right to discontinue use of any AI tool that no longer meets these standards, regardless of convenience or cost.

Our Guiding Principles

• Human oversight: A person reviews and approves all AI-assisted content before it is published, submitted, or shared externally.
• Transparency: We do not misrepresent AI-generated content as purely human-created when disclosure is relevant or expected.
• Data responsibility: We do not enter confidential customer data, supplier agreements, or sensitive personal information into third-party AI tools.
• Authentic voice: Our brand story — rooted in terroir, French technique, and ethical sourcing — reflects genuine human expertise and values, not algorithmic output.
• No displacement of human work: AI is used to enhance capacity, not to eliminate roles or relationships that define who we are.