Inteligência Artificial e ONGs / OSCs: As Primeiras Coisas a Saber
What are the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Civil Society Organizations (NGOs/CSOs)? Manuel Gomez, from the Independent Sector, addresses both—along with the regulation of AI evolution.
AI represents a vast group of technological developments. On one hand, some of its applications bring clear benefits to nonprofit organizations in the form of automation and tools that help draft emails, manage donor relations, synthesize meetings, process data, prepare reports, streamline media production, provide content, and analyze communication channels. ChatGPT, for example, helps a small team make data-driven decisions, saving time and limited resources.
On the other hand, NGOs/CSOs face the same AI risks as other sectors, such as job losses, fake content and propaganda, surveillance, and intellectual property. Neutrality and transparency are additional concerns: the data used to train AI may contain implicit biases from its creators, and it is not always easy to know when tools are being used. Another broader risk is that AI could be used to suppress civil society. However, the most immediate and pressing issue for NGOs/CSOs related to AI may be data privacy—and regulation is in flux as governments seek to integrate AI concerns into data privacy regulations.
In Europe, for instance, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) may soon be updated to address AI. In the U.S., the "Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights" aims to tackle issues such as AI safety, algorithmic discrimination, and data privacy. It calls for explicit disclosure when AI is being used and for offering a human alternative. Additionally, states are starting to regulate AI following the non-passing of the American Privacy and Data Protection Act of 2022 (though it could be reintroduced). Like the GDPR, the law would regulate how nonprofits, as well as businesses, handle personal data.
Finally, even though AI represents a threat to NGOs/CSOs, it can also make cybersecurity more effective overall, as machine learning algorithms can identify attacks as they occur. It is advantageous for all organizations to stay updated on these trends. For guidance on current cybersecurity practices for NGOs/CSOs, refer to our list of ten best practices.
