Challenges with AI
Not surprisingly, AI is not without its pitfalls and charities are faced with the same risks as everyone else:
- AI “washing”: Some solutions are simply basic tools re-badged and re-priced for those keen to adopt AI and who don’t know what they’re buying
- Ethics: AI tools and systems can inherit biases due to poor training, insufficient data modelling or inadequate research samples – this could lead to unfair treatment or damage to reputation
- IP and privacy: Users of AI could inadvertently end up processing proprietary, confidential and personal data, leading to increased risk of litigation
- Job replacement: efficiencies through use of AI could see staff being redeployed to areas that they are not comfortable with or could even lead to redundancies
- Security threats: AI-honed cyber-attacks are on the increase and could leave a charity’s IT and finances exposed
- Human supervision: The Charity Commission expects trustees to ensure that human oversight is in place to prevent material errors.
It’s also worth noting that smaller charities can lack the financial and technical resources to invest in AI solutions, risking a widening gap between large, well-funded charities and their smaller counterparts. According to recent research, larger charities and non-profit organisations with annual budgets exceeding $1 million are adopting AI tools at nearly twice the rate of smaller organisations (66% v 34%). Without action, there’s a real danger that small charities could be left behind in a growing digital divide.