AI at Work: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
In the realm of nonprofits, the integration of AI introduces a spectrum of opportunities and challenges—unveiling the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of this technological evolution. On the positive front, AI offers transformative potential for nonprofits such as:
- Efficiency and Automation: AI streamlines administrative tasks, enabling associations and nonprofits to allocate resources more efficiently, reducing operational burdens.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: The technology empowers these entities with data insights, facilitating informed decision-making for strategic planning and impact assessment.
However, challenges persist, marking the bad:
- Resource Allocation Concerns: Implementation costs and the need for skilled personnel pose challenges, making it imperative for organizations to carefully evaluate the cost-benefit equation.
- Ethical Considerations: Bias in algorithms and potential privacy infringements raise ethical concerns, necessitating robust ethical frameworks to guide AI applications.
The ugly side emerges when ethical boundaries are crossed:
- Misuse of Data: Improper handling of sensitive data can result in reputational damage and legal ramifications, emphasizing the importance of stringent data governance.
At this session, Page Moon, Matt Reisman and Kiki L’Italien, will provide take aways for nonprofit professionals that include insights about:
- Strategic Implementation: Integrate AI strategically, aligning it with organizational goals and ensuring that it enhances, rather than disrupts, existing workflows.
- Invest in Skill Development: Invest in staff training to cultivate the skills necessary for effective AI utilization, fostering a workforce equipped to navigate the evolving landscape.
- Ethical Oversight: Establish clear ethical guidelines and governance structures to mitigate the risks associated with bias, privacy concerns, and potential misuse of AI in the nonprofit sector.
Navigating the AI landscape demands a balanced perspective, where the benefits are harnessed, challenges are addressed, and ethical considerations guide implementation in the unique context of nonprofits.
Learning Objectives – attendees will gain:
- Understanding what is AI.
- Applications of AI in nonprofit organizations.
- Framework for consideration of integrating AI into your organization.
Page W. Moon, Co-Founder and CIO, Focus Data Solutions
Page W. Moon is the Co-Founder and CIO of Focus Data Solutions, a boutique managed services company that assists professional service firms, associations and non-profits in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland.
Page’s 30+ year career focuses upon IT strategy, security, network engineering and software design. He has assisted private companies, educational organizations, and government entities with network design, cybersecurity strategy, IT product rollouts, internet applications and leadership selection.
Page has developed call center solutions and high availability internet applications for the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, ADP and CACI.
He speaks at business events, conventions and to companies and organizations on cyber security, social engineering prevention and business system integration. For many years, Page has volunteered as a meeting facilitator and speaker for software systems used by managed services providers worldwide.
Active in his community, Page was a volunteer with the City of Alexandria Information Technology Commission, was a member of the St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Board of Governors, participated on the First Night Alexandria Board of Directors, is active in the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Alexandria. He also coached youth soccer and lacrosse with Alexandria based recreation teams.
Page served honorably in the United States Navy. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
