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Did you spring forward with AI?
New Updates from AI Leaders
Shereese Floyd
June 03, 2024
Insights from the Latest Microsoft/LinkedIn Report
AI at Work Is Here. Now Comes the Hard Part
Last month, Microsoft and LinkedIn released its Work Trend Index. It provides insight into AI and its use in the workplace. This Index is the results of 31,000 people across 31 countries.
“Employees want AI at work and they want their companies to catch up.”
Highlights:
Widespread AI Use: 75% of workers are now using AI, enhancing productivity and creativity.
BYOAI (Bring Your Own AI) Trend: A notable 78% of AI users bring their own AI tools to work, indicating a move towards personalized tech solutions.
Leadership Challenges: Many leaders recognize the need for AI but lack a clear implementation strategy, highlighting a gap in vision versus practice.
Strategic Implications: The report emphasizes the necessity for organizations to develop AI strategies that align with their business goals and ethical standards. As AI continues to evolve, adapting to its implications will be crucial for staying competitive. Read the full report.
The trend of BYOAI poses risks for organizations.
52% of people who use AI at work are reluctant to admit to using it for their most important tasks.
53% of people who use AI at work worry that using it on important work tasks makes them look replaceable.
These stats speak to a deeper issue — the reluctance to share use of AI may stem from a lack of clear guidelines, a ban or fear of judgment from peers and superiors, which can create an environment where employees are not open about how they utilize tools to enhance productivity — either way it’s a lack of trust and transparency.
Additionally, if employees are hesitant to disclose their use of AI for fear of being replaced, this highlights job security concerns, which may be deeper than AI usage. This perception could lead to resistance in adopting AI technologies, slowing down new ideas and potentially causing a divide between the workforce and management. This is why change management is important to AI adoption.
Bring your own AI is not a good look for organizations as it also presents these risks:
Increased risk of data breaches and loss of control over sensitive information.
Increased risk of legal implications without a clear policy for data privacy and governance.
Discrepancies in access to advanced AI tools among employees, which might lead to disparities in productivity and performance.
BYOAI may lead to a shift in workplace culture, emphasizing more individual autonomy and potentially changing how teams coordinate and collaborate.
AI is in our lives. What will we responsibly do with it next?
OpenAI Announced New Features for FREE Users
OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, held its spring update and depending on who you ask, it did not disappoint. FREE users won big with new standard features in the GPT-4o model that will be available to everyone at no cost in the coming months.
Here are the upgrades:
Enhanced AI Performance: Enjoy GPT-4 level intelligence that is quicker and more efficient.
Voice Mode: Interact naturally with real-time conversational speech, improved to understand and respond more quickly.
Vision Capabilities: Upload and discuss screenshots, photos, and documents with both text and images.
Memory: Experience more helpful interactions with continuity across conversations.
Browsing: Search for real-time information during your conversations.
Advanced Data Analysis: Upload charts and tools, and get detailed analyses.
Multilingual Support: Improved quality and speed in 50 different languages.
GPT Store: Access custom ChatGPT experiences created by other users
And as if this wasn’t enough, you’ll experience “conversational” bots that simulate conversation and read emotion.
What does this mean for nonprofits?
The new AI tools have several benefits. This makes advanced technology accessible to all nonprofits, regardless of budget size, allowing even smaller organizations to benefit from AI.
Faster responses enhances productivity allowing for a trackable return on investment (ROI). These numbers become important for grant applications and impact reports as nonprofits add AI to their teams and service offerings.
The ability to upload documents (pdf, doc, excel, csv, etc.) allow for greater data analysis and synthesizing information from program outcomes, donations, volunteer management and more.
Nonprofits can use AI to better analyze and present their impact through data visualizations, making it easier to communicate with stakeholders effectively.
For nonprofits focused on education, the ability to interact with images and documents can help create more engaging and interactive learning experiences.
Customizable AI features mean services can be tailored to meet specific needs of the people they serve, increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit programs.
Lastly, the availability of the GPT Store opens up opportunities for nonprofits to explore and experiment with new AI applications and services.
Learn more about the spring update.
Our AICN Team Grows - Meet Sherlyn Cupid
 | Sherlyn Cupid is a results-oriented leader with a proven track record in leveraging technology for business transformation. As the CEO of Elite Tech Consulting Firm, LLC, she bridges the gap between deep customer service expertise and cutting-edge Conversational AI solutions. Sherlyn's focus is on propelling women-owned service-based businesses to the forefront, particularly within the small and mid-market space. |
Sherlyn possesses a unique blend of technical proficiency and user-centric understanding. Her skillset encompasses system implementation, program management, cybersecurity, software development, and UX design. This allows her to seamlessly integrate AI solutions that drive tangible business outcomes, specializing in Conversational AI for Service Optimization.
Prior to founding Elite Tech, Sherlyn spent two years in the EdTech industry, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of technology in education. This experience fuels her passion for harnessing AI for positive social impact.
Sherlyn's dedication extends beyond the commercial sphere. She actively volunteers with three non-profit organizations, leveraging her AI and automation expertise to empower these organizations and the communities they serve. These organizations include The Hampton Roads Black Nonprofit Alliance (Membership and Mentorship Program Coordinator), Blacks in Technology Foundation (Director of Nonprofit Tech Solutions for the Virginia Board), and Black Girls Hack.
A champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within the tech field, Sherlyn is dedicated to supporting underrepresented groups. Her shift towards the non-profit sector reflects her desire to bridge the gap between technology and social good. Sherlyn is a strong advocate for leveraging technology to create positive change, and she is committed to using her skills to drive a more equitable and empowered future.
We welcome Sherlyn to AICN as an associate consultant.
Training/Classes/Upcoming Events
AI for Nonprofits Community | Overview: 9 out of 10 workers want companies with ChatGPT experience. This is a great chance to boost your career and stay competitive in the job market. |
AI Conference for Nonprofits  | Mark Your Calendars: Come inspired. Leave certified. |
Accredited AI Certification | Overview: This 12-week, on demand, accredited certification was developed with nonprofit leaders, learning and development professionals, and AI enthusiasts. It is a robust curriculum that teaches AI specific to nonprofit use cases. |
Prompt Share
Want to breathe life into a new mission and/or shake up marketing?
Consider this prompt to challenge your the conventional wisdom around your mission os you can see it a new way and perhaps get inspired to think and talk about it differently.
Challenge Your Thinking
You are an expert debater and contrarian who likes to look at things from an opposing point of view. I am going to give you a {mission} and I’d like you to create a different point of view. Our nonprofit seeks to shake up our marketing and create new ways to engage stakeholders. Present your view point in markdown format for easy reading.
{mission}:
Let us know how this works for you.
Ask AICN
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