How is AI evolving in the nonprofit workplace?  As nonprofit leaders, we’re constantly navigating a landscape of emerging technologies and their impact on our workplace and mission. The rapid adoption of generative AI presents opportunities and challenges for our sector. Two recent studies – Andrew McAfee’s Generally Faster: The Economic Impact of Generative AI and Bick, Blandin, and Deming’s ‘The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI – offer complementary insights into this technological evolution. Understanding the nuances of these reports is useful for nonprofit leaders as we shape our strategies, adapt our operations, and run our programs in an AI-informed world.

Adoption Speed: AI’s Accelerated Integration

Both reports underscore the rapid integration of generative AI into the economy, but Bick’s team presents more granular adoption statistics. According to their nationally representative survey, 39.4% of U.S. adults had already used generative AI by August 2024, with 28% of workers incorporating it into their jobs.

The Bick study reveals that generative AI has been adopted faster than the internet and personal computers, underscoring the unprecedented speed of this technological shift.

AI’s Reach: Beyond Traditional Fields

While McAfee focuses on high-skill industries like healthcare, software development, and consulting, Bick, Blandin, and Deming highlight how generative AI is touching blue-collar jobs and administrative roles. Their report shows that even in fields like construction, 22% of workers already use generative AI tools. This broad range of adoption means that generative AI is affecting every part of the workforce, including nonprofits.

Key Productivity Gains: Similar Goals, Different Paths

Both reports paint AI as a productivity game-changer. McAfee emphasizes the massive productivity boost AI can offer across various professions. The Bick report complements this by quantifying how much of our daily work could soon be influenced by AI. They estimate that between 0.5% and 3.5% of U.S. work hours are already assisted by generative AI, translating into potential labor productivity gains of up to 0.875 percentage points.

The crucial distinction between these reports is that McAfee is projecting a 0.4 percentage point boost in overall GDP growth over the next decade, while the Bick report zooms in on task-level improvements across many jobs.

Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Leaders About AI in the Nonprofit Workplace

Bick’s research adds new value in understanding who uses AI, how frequently they use it, and what it is for. Their data reveals that while men are more likely to use AI at work (32%) than women (23%), adoption cuts across age groups, educational levels, and industries. This provides a more comprehensive picture of how AI changes the work structure.

The implications of these studies for nonprofit organizations are profound:

• Rapid Adoption Across All Levels: With AI adoption, even in blue-collar jobs, nonprofits should prepare for AI integration at all levels. For example:
  • Volunteer management systems could use AI to optimize scheduling and task allocation.
  • Fundraising teams could leverage AI for donor segmentation and personalized outreach.
  • Program delivery could incorporate AI-powered chatbots for initial client intake or information dissemination.
• Productivity Gains: McAfee’s focus on productivity gains suggests nonprofits must act swiftly to leverage these tools. Consider:
  • Using AI for grant writing and reporting potentially increases the number of grants applied for and improves success rates.
  • Implementing AI-powered data analysis tools to assess program impacts and adjust strategies quickly.
  • Utilizing AI for routine administrative tasks frees staff time for more mission-critical work.
• Inclusive AI Literacy: As AI integrates into more jobs, nonprofits must pivot their training and outreach programs. This could involve:
  • Developing AI literacy programs for the communities you serve, focusing on practical skills like using AI-powered job search tools or educational resources.
  • Creating partnerships with tech companies to provide AI training for underserved populations.
  • Adapting job training programs to include AI skills relevant to various industries.
• Ethical Leadership: Given the rapid adoption, nonprofits have a unique opportunity to lead in ethical AI use:
  • Develop and publicly share guidelines for responsible AI use within your organization.
  • Advocate for AI policies that protect vulnerable populations and promote equity.
  • Collaborate with other nonprofits to establish sector-wide standards for ethical AI adoption.
• Strategic Planning: The fast pace of AI adoption requires agile strategic planning:
  • Conduct regular AI readiness assessments across your organization.
  • Create cross-functional AI implementation teams to ensure holistic adoption.
  • Develop scenarios for how AI might disrupt your sector and plan responses accordingly.

Conclusion

These studies reveal the rapid and widespread adoption of AI, which presents a pivotal moment for the nonprofit sector. As we grapple with this technological shift, we face complex challenges: ensuring equitable access to AI’s benefits, mitigating potential harms, and reshaping our organizations to thrive in this new landscape.

As nonprofit leaders, our role extends beyond merely implementing new technologies. We are uniquely positioned to shape the ethical framework of AI adoption, ensuring it aligns with our values of social justice and community empowerment. The question is how we can use AI and harness its potential to address systemic inequalities and create a more profound, lasting impact in our communities.

The AI revolution is happening, and its effects will ripple through every aspect of our work. Our response to this transformation will define not only the future of our organizations but also the role of the nonprofit sector in an increasingly AI-driven society. As we move forward, we must remain committed to our core values, recognizing that amid this technological shift, we can reimagine and amplify our impact on the world.

Note: This post references an earlier I wrote about Andrew McAffee’s report, AI Revolution in Nonprofits: Insights from Andrew McAfee’s Latest Report.