2023 is the year AI ate the internet, according to the New Yorker and anyone not living under a rock. AI has so deeply penetrated our society that we can’t ignore the existential questions it raises, from the future of work to ethical dilemmas to questions about whether it will exacerbate bias and inequity or be used for the good of civil society.

While the for-profit sector is lightyears ahead of its nonprofit counterpart, readily adopting AI into their operations and tech stacks, the social sector is lagging woefully — but unsurprisingly — behind, given the resources needed to embark on such a transformation. Recognizing the need for a fundamental cultural shift, philanthropy has a responsibility to encourage, fund, and accelerate the adoption of responsible AI in and for the social sector.

We are all individually called to experiment and learn about AI, warts and all, but funding is the critical element to ensure that AI is harnessed for good. And we all know nonprofit infrastructure is perennially and abysmally under-funded. So, take this as a call-to-action, dear philanthropic partners, as your role is crucial in moving the sector forward and, equally as crucial, in helping with responsible AI development and adoption.

Ensuring a Sustainable AI Future

Turning back to the social sector: How are we — fundraisers, grantmakers, academics, nonprofit folks — going to ride this wave of innovation in service of social impact and civil society? These four crucial concepts serve as a possible framework to help philanthropy spearhead a collaborative approach to developing and adopting responsible AI.

  1. Drive Sector-Level Vision
  2. Fund the Back-End to Front-Load Impact
  3. Develop Guidelines
  4. Invest in Equitable Innovation

Read the full article about supporting responsible AI by Rachel Kimber, Joanna Drew, Ravit Dotan, Ph.D., and Mark Greer II at The Center for Effective Philanthropy.