Like many Americans, I am chagrined by recent news of AI mishaps. Which is why I wanted to attend, “AI for Human Progress” hosted on October 2, 2026 in Austin by DELL Technologies, Windows 11 and TechSoup.
Instead of taking jobs and ultimately setting the world on a path to the destruction of human beings, this event emphasized humans in control and using AI tools for enhanced work efficiency and the scaling-up of nonprofit organizations and their many worthy missions.
And what do nonprofits do?
America’s 1.3 million charitable nonprofits feed, heal, shelter, educate, inspire, enlighten, and nurture people of every age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status, from coast to coast, border to border, and beyond. They foster civic engagement and leadership, drive economic growth, and strengthen the fabric of our communities. Every single day.
To me, the term “AI” is simply the rebranding of the computer technology we have lived and worked with for decades. By rebranding I mean changing public perception by updating identity and messaging. Regrettably, the conversation about AI today is clouded by suspicion and misunderstanding. How this can be rectified remains to be seen. The “rebranding” has not been a success in my humble opinion.
During a conversation with a colleague during the conference, we observed that many of the spokespeople for AI are engineers who are excited by new developments in AI from a technological standpoint, but who are not necessarily in tune with the average person, their emotional needs, perspectives and fears. Mental Health America shares insights about emotional intelligence and its application in the workplace. Perhaps pairing AI engineers with people noted for a high degree in emotional intelligence would reduce misunderstandings and allow for easier adoption of AI. Perhaps the latter professionals should do the public speaking rather than the engineers.
Microsoft notes that, “After several years of experimentation, 2026 is shaping up to be the year AI evolves from instrument to partner, transforming how we work, create and solve problems. Across industries, AI is moving beyond answering questions to collaborating with people and amplifying their expertise.” In other words, the future isn’t about replacing humans, it is about enhancing their work. This is a inspiring description.
Voronoi by Visual Capitalist shares a graphic illustrating where the world stands in the use of AI. While we are gaining traction in the United States, some nations are significantly ahead.
In the United States, Virtuous notes regarding nonprofits specifically, “Our data shows most organizations are still in the early innings with AI: one person using ChatGPT to help draft an appeal, while the rest of the team is still buried in manual processes and disconnected systems. That’s not a strategy. It’s a workaround,” notes Gabe Cooper, CEO. Follow the links to read more.
What can nonprofits do to make better use of AI? As a longtime volunteer for TechSoup, I suggest you refer to AI for Nonprofits and, “Where Your Organization Should Start with AI.” On that webpage, you can determine if AI is a good fit for your nonprofit, how to govern AI (setting boundaries), how to protect your data, and how to put AI to work in a deep and impactful way. You can also request a consultation unique to your nonprofit by following this link. And you can take online TechSoup “courses” on AI. These resources are a great place to start!
My photo above shares the closing slide of the conference. In order to be successful with AI, nonprofits are advised to:
- Identify the problem (they wish to solve with AI)
- Obtain executive leadership and buy-in
- Get clean accessible data
- Have infrastructure & storage
- Design an organizational training plan
- Celebrate along the way.
Other speakers during the event noted the need to use verified and licensed AI services (not just randomly chosen “AI” found on the Internet), and you can find some AI tools on TechSoup as well. If you aren’t a TechSoup member yet, sign up free of charge and then avail yourself of the many technology discounts available.
Best wishes in adopting AI. My thanks go to the October 2 conference organizers here in Austin. I hope to see more public conversations about nonprofits and AI in the months and years ahead!
I took two short videos during the event, and you can find those @CarolynAppleton on YouTube.
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