Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of this day and age. Even in its infancy, AI is already making waves in certain industries and so that begs the question, what impact is AI going to have on the charity sector...

 1. New channels are being created

Soon donors will be asking channels like ChatGPT to do things like “look up which charities are working with refugees, what they do and how they would use my £25 donation”. Time to add generative AI channels to forward plans.

 2️. Robots will be a target audience

There will be a difference to how these channels work: a robot will intermediate. And robots behave differently. Design may not be as important as complete and structured content that machines can read. Is your content ready for a robot?

 3. Your staff will use generative AI… if they aren’t already

Microsoft will soon add generative AI to Office. Unlike other AI, generative AI is for the consumers – and your staff will be using it. Understand why and how – and help them prepare.

 4. People will need to transform, not just organisations

Digital transformation focused on organisations adapting to stay relevant. Conversations on generative AI focus more on individuals. Their livelihood may depend on how well you support them to evolve their skills.

 5. Misinformation and fake news is going to increase

Generative AI is known for creating realistic, yet false, content. We can all be targeted and duped. Now is the time to start adapting guidelines and protocols for fact-checking and combating misinformation.

 6. Take-up will be uneven

The digital divide will widen further with generative AI. While you develop new channels and systems, you need to plan now for how to remain inclusive and accessible to those who stick with existing channels.

 7. Legal, ethical and regulatory problems will come

The road ahead is rocky. This new technology presents legal, ethical, and regulatory challenges. You'll need to keep up – and influence for responsible AI development and governance.

 8. Change will be faster than we are used too

Generative AI doesn't need new computers or systems, so everything is happening very quickly. Invest in team agility and resilience to adapt.

 9. You won’t be able to respond alone

Given everything, don't expect to be able to go it alone. Collaboration is essential. Foster partnerships, share insights, embrace the power of collective action.

 10. Literally no-one knows where this will end

Everything is moving so fast that even those who work in tech are dumb-founded. This topic requires your time, focus and engagement.