Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing at a rapid pace, but making sense of its possibilities and practical applications can feel overwhelming - especially for Not-For-Profit organisations with limited resources.
Recently Tracey Newman (she/her) and I spoke with Kyle Behrend of nfps.ai about exploring both AI's opportunities and ethical considerations.
A lot of not-for-profits are playing around with AI at the moment, so here is a bit of a guide to assist with effective implementation:
Keeping Pace with Change
Staying up to date with how AI is progressing is critical, but first focus on your organisation's specific problems and how AI could help, rather than getting caught up in all the changes. Kyle recommends to "Start small, identify the specific problem, experiment and grow.” This will allow you to ensure what you are implementing is there to solve a problem or create something better, rather than chasing AI for the sake of it being a fancy new piece of tech.
Free People Up, Not Removing Jobs
Sometimes people think that introducing AI is going to mean less jobs for humans, but automating routine tasks like categorising emails frees up staff for higher-impact work. For example, AI can generate first drafts of content like blog posts or social media posts to save time. Most Not-For-Profit's have resourcing challenges, so when used as a tool in the right way, AI can help with this problem by allowing us to get more done with the same resources.
Ensuring Human Oversight
While current AI shows potential, we humans should stay in the loop. AI should be viewed as an assistant rather than a replacement for people. Always make sure your team is the final sign off point for any content AI has created. This will ensure the quality remains at your required standards.
By starting small with AI and focusing on problems, not-for-profits can leverage emerging tech to enhance efficiency, engagement and impact - as long as the human element remains central to their missions. Consistent experimentation will uncover new solutions, but conversations around responsible implementation must continue as adoption increases.
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