As generative artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly common, many people working and volunteering in the charity sector are keen to better understand how these tools work and how they could be used.
At the same time, AI raises important practical and ethical questions. A guide designed specifically for the charity sector aims to help people explore both the opportunities and challenges that generative AI presents.
What is generative AI?
Artificial intelligence covers a wide range of technologies and can broadly be described as getting computers and machines to perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence.
This guide focuses on one particular area: generative AI – tools that can create new content, such as text, images and other materials, in response to prompts from users.
Who is the guide for?
The guide is aimed at people who work or volunteer in the charity sector and who are not specialists in AI.
It may be particularly useful for anyone who:
- Wants to understand more about what generative AI can do
- Has concerns about AI and how it could be used
- Is exploring how generative AI might support their work
- Is looking for practical guidance on using these tools responsibly
Exploring opportunities and ethical questions
The guide looks at a range of scenarios where generative AI could be – or is already being – used by charities.
It also explores some of the practical and ethical issues that can arise, alongside possible ways organisations and individuals can respond.
As AI continues to develop, understanding both its potential benefits and its limitations will become increasingly important. The guide provides a useful starting point for charity staff and volunteers who want to have informed conversations, explore new possibilities and consider how these tools can be used in ways that reflect their organisation's values and responsibilities.
Click here to access the guide.
