As generative AI code assistants like GitHub Copilot become increasingly popular, it's essential for developers to adopt best practices to ensure safe use of these tools. This includes having a human in the loop to validate and review AI-generated code, scanning AI code with separate security tools, validating third-party dependencies, automating testing across teams and projects, and protecting proprietary IP from being leaked during training. By implementing these 5 best practices, developers can harness the power of generative AI while minimizing risks and ensuring secure code outputs.