Forum Discussion
Interesting question posed to me yesterday
Since MS's Nonprofit Global Leaders Summit, I have been talking to many people in our organisation about the benefits of Gen AI and trying to allay fears that it is going to take their jobs. However,...
This is just an important point that you bring up and it is important to address staff concerns.
I would emphasize the concept of copiloting -- that we are not fully "offloading" to the AI 100% of our job tasks -- that we let the AI do what it is good at and we retain the tasks that we are good at. Everyone has different strengths -- and part of the job they do well and provide satisfaction. Those are tasks that we would want to retain. But there are parts of everyone's job, even creative jobs, that we could offload to the AI and that would free up us to do more of the stuff that gives satisfaction.
The hard part is there isn't a universal manual or role book on this. We have to explore it ourselves. We have to map out what the AI can do and what we can do. If we do this, we get a view of our job role that we have never had before. It lessens the fear and it helps us focus on where these tools are useful and where they become more useful, valuable to your nonprofit’s mission.
I have written four books and do a lot of writing. When I initially encountered generative AI, I didn't want the AI to do any of it. However, I thought a lot about my own creative process for writing and what parts of the process contributed to my satisfaction and joy - and what didn't. I discovered a few places in my creative/writing process where the AI was beneficial as a copilot.
I would emphasize the concept of copiloting -- that we are not fully "offloading" to the AI 100% of our job tasks -- that we let the AI do what it is good at and we retain the tasks that we are good at. Everyone has different strengths -- and part of the job they do well and provide satisfaction. Those are tasks that we would want to retain. But there are parts of everyone's job, even creative jobs, that we could offload to the AI and that would free up us to do more of the stuff that gives satisfaction.
The hard part is there isn't a universal manual or role book on this. We have to explore it ourselves. We have to map out what the AI can do and what we can do. If we do this, we get a view of our job role that we have never had before. It lessens the fear and it helps us focus on where these tools are useful and where they become more useful, valuable to your nonprofit’s mission.
I have written four books and do a lot of writing. When I initially encountered generative AI, I didn't want the AI to do any of it. However, I thought a lot about my own creative process for writing and what parts of the process contributed to my satisfaction and joy - and what didn't. I discovered a few places in my creative/writing process where the AI was beneficial as a copilot.
I love all of this!
I 100% agree with all of these comments - but I have one quick addition.
mrb999 - you mentioned this person is at the beginning of their career. I think in order to get the most out of Gen AI as a collaborator, I feel like you need to learn your own creative process first. Understand where your strengths are (not just what you're 'good' at, but what are the parts of the process that excite you and give you energy) and the place where you need more support. That's going to be different for everyone. Understanding yourself and your own process will better equip you for that exploration that Beth is talking about.
I 100% agree with all of these comments - but I have one quick addition.
mrb999 - you mentioned this person is at the beginning of their career. I think in order to get the most out of Gen AI as a collaborator, I feel like you need to learn your own creative process first. Understand where your strengths are (not just what you're 'good' at, but what are the parts of the process that excite you and give you energy) and the place where you need more support. That's going to be different for everyone. Understanding yourself and your own process will better equip you for that exploration that Beth is talking about.
- amygoddard: thank you for this. This was a message in one of the breakouts (and probably at the plenary one day as well) that really resonated with me. Understanding how you work and the checkpoints along the way of any process will help you use Gen AI more effectively.
mrb999 Thanks for sharing your situation - been hearing from other nonprofit leaders similar types of concerns or fears from staff. It inspired me to reflect on the very early stages of adoption for nonprofit organizations and write this up: https://bethkanter.org/people-first-ai/
amygoddard very astute observation and 100% agree. Ask the question of what part of the process brings the most joy and or most pain - is a great place to start.
