Award Force Introduces Private AI Tools for Awards Management with Enhanced Security Controls

Award Force, the leading platform for awards management, announced the launch of new AI tools designed with a secure, privacy-first approach for awards programs worldwide. The capabilities aim to help program managers work more efficiently and fairly while maintaining the privacy, security, and control that clients expect from the platform. According to Richard de Nys, Managing Director of Award Force, the company focused on building a responsible foundation for the future rather than simply adding another AI feature.

The AI tools operate entirely within Award Force's secure virtual private cloud, unlike many technology providers that rely on third-party processing. This approach ensures all data remains private, fully compliant, and never leaves the Award Force environment. Clients can choose from powerful, embedded language models that never send data outside the company's systems, with every AI interaction handled securely without external data sharing or third-party access.

Participation in the AI features is completely optional, requiring program managers to actively opt in to enable the tools within their accounts. Unless activated, no data is shared with any AI systems, providing total isolation for organizations not yet ready to adopt the technology. Users can also select the specific LLM models they trust, including options such as Claude Sonnet, GPT OSS, and Qwen3, depending on their location and preferences.

The first release in the AI tools suite is AI fields, a new field type that allows program managers to use natural language prompts to analyze entries, summarize content, generate consistent feedback, and assist judging processes directly within the Award Force platform. Once activated, managers can automatically or manually summarize or analyze entries, generate fair and consistent feedback for entrants, support judges with contextual insights, and control when and how AI responses are generated and shared.

All AI interactions occur entirely within the Award Force environment, giving program managers full flexibility and control over visibility and use. AI fields represent the initial step in a broader initiative to deliver intelligent, secure AI features across the platform, with future releases planned to expand capabilities while maintaining principles of safety, fairness, and practicality. The company emphasizes that this launch represents just the beginning of building an AI foundation clients can grow with responsibly and securely.