Good news for non-profits and the public sector! A recent report from Fast Forward, the “2026 AI for Humanity Report”, highlights a significant paradox: while general public trust in AI is declining, non-profits remain the most trusted institutions. This offers a unique opportunity to lead the way in responsible AI implementation.
The report, based on a global survey of 119 AI-driven non-profits, indicates that organisations are seeing significant benefits. A remarkable 92% of surveyed non-profits report that AI has made their service delivery more efficient. Furthermore, 55% state that AI has enabled personalised services at scale. Consider the acceleration of administrative tasks, improved donor engagement, or making information more accessible to citizens.
Trust as a Differentiating Factor in the AI Era
Your organisation finds itself in a unique position. While AI assistants and answer engines become increasingly prominent in how people find information, scrutiny over the reliability of AI-generated answers has grown. This is where the inherent trustworthiness of non-profits and public institutions comes into play. Your organisation is already viewed as a trusted source. This means that when you deploy AI, you have an opportunity to demonstrate how AI can function in an ethical, transparent, and mission-driven way.
However, the study also highlights the risks, such as privacy and security concerns, issues of fairness, and the necessity of robust governance. None of the 119 organisations surveyed indicated that the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, but almost all respondents expressed concerns about these risks. This underscores the importance of thoughtful implementation.
What This Means for You
These insights are crucial for your discoverability and for building trust in the AI landscape:
- Be Transparent About AI Use: If you deploy AI, communicate clearly how and why. Your audience trusts your organisation, so be open about AI’s role in your work. This can range from acknowledging AI-assisted communications to explaining AI-driven services.
- Prioritise Ethics and Governance: Develop clear internal guidelines for AI use. Focus on data privacy, preventing bias, and ensuring human oversight of critical decisions. This not only strengthens trust but also aids compliance with future regulations.
- AI as a Facilitator, Not a Replacement: Use AI to bolster your mission, expand your impact, and enhance efficiency, but ensure it doesn’t undermine human connection and your organisation’s core values.
By actively and consciously engaging with AI, your non-profit or public organisation can not only improve its own discoverability but also build broader trust in AI applications.
