How Agentic AI Can Transform the Social Impact Space
The Next Big Thing
Just as nonprofits and government agencies have started to get their heads around Generative AI and Large Language Models(LLMs), a new AI technology that builds on LLMs is proliferating at increasing speed. Indeed, in the fast-evolving world of technology, the next technology to unlock is Agentic AI—autonomous software agents capable of perceiving their environment, making decisions, and taking actions independently to achieve specific goals. From automating repetitive tasks to scaling impact through personalized engagement autonomously, Agentic AI offers opportunities that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
What is Agentic AI?
Agentic AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence designed to operate with a high degree of autonomy. Unlike traditional AI systems, which require continuous human intervention for decision-making, Agentic AI uses sophisticated algorithms to understand its environment, learn from data, and take proactive steps to achieve predefined objectives. Generative AI allows for production of all forms of content and can conducts data analysis through plain language prompts. AI agents can take the same plain language prompting to not only produce content but act autonomously leveraging the business systems that your organization uses to do work. In the social impact context, this could mean automating personalized donor outreach on real time donor feedback and engagement, independently managing logistics of whole classes of operations, or identifying potential beneficiaries for targeted programs.
Here's an example from Anthropic's Claude:
Real-World Applications
Agentic AI has the potential to make significant impact on our work in the nonprofit sector. Here are a few examples:
Donor Management: AI-powered tools can segment donors based on their giving history, interests, and engagement levels, allowing for tailored outreach campaigns.
Volunteer Coordination: Autonomous systems can match volunteers with suitable opportunities, optimizing schedules and reducing administrative overhead.
Crisis Response: In disaster relief scenarios, Agentic AI can analyze real-time data to allocate resources effectively, ensuring aid reaches those in need quickly.
Environmental Conservation: AI agents can monitor ecosystems through satellite imagery, identifying threats like deforestation or illegal fishing activities.
Ethical Considerations
While Agentic AI offers immense potential, nonprofits must approach its adoption thoughtfully. Key ethical considerations include:
Data Privacy: Safeguarding sensitive donor and beneficiary information is paramount.
Bias and Fairness: Ensuring AI systems do not perpetuate existing biases in data or decision-making processes.
Transparency: Maintaining clear communication with stakeholders about how AI systems are used and ensuring accountability.
Accessibility: Ensuring that smaller organizations with limited budgets can access and benefit from these technologies.
Steps to Adoption
For nonprofits considering the integration of Agentic AI, we should note that major vendors like Salesforce.com and Microsoft have already introduced agentic tools within their systems. The generative AI vendors Here’s a quick roadmap to start using those tools:
Assess Needs: Identify areas where Agentic AI could provide the most value, whether it’s donor management, program delivery, or internal operations. Are there repetitive tasks in areas such as program monitoring that an autonomous worker would be able to support your team members doing this kind of work.
Start Small and Experiment: The best way to learn is by doing. Pilot a specific use case to understand the technology’s capabilities and limitations.
Build Expertise: Invest in training staff or partnering with tech-savvy organizations to bridge knowledge gaps.
Evaluate Vendors: Choose tools and platforms aligned with your mission and values. Does it make sense to use agents within your existing systems, agents that can work across systems, or some combination?
Monitor and Iterate: Continuously evaluate the impact of AI systems and refine them based on feedback and outcomes. Monitoring autonomous agents will become a new quality assurance/control exercise that social impact organizations will need to get good at doing.
The Future of Social Impact Organizations and Agentic AI
As Agentic AI evolves, its potential to revolutionize the nonprofit sector will only grow. By leveraging this technology, organizations can achieve greater efficiency, deepen stakeholder relationships, and amplify their impact on the communities they serve. However, success will depend on thoughtful implementation and a commitment to ethical practices.
Nonprofits have always been at the forefront of addressing society’s most pressing challenges. With Agentic AI, they now have a powerful ally to help them navigate complexity and scale their efforts. Embracing this innovation is not just an opportunity—it’s a necessity for driving meaningful change in an increasingly digital world.
Author's Note: I wrote this blog in conjunction with Chat-GPT. Transparency in the use of AI is an important principle in the ethical use of AI.