Will Gen AI Disrupt Your Association or Propel It to New Heights?
As associations increasingly integrate generative AI (Gen AI) to enhance productivity, member engagement, and operational efficiency, they face unique challenges and risks. For association executives, understanding and addressing these hurdles is crucial to maximizing the benefits of Gen AI while mitigating potential downsides.
Common Challenges of Integrating Gen AI in Associations
One of the most pressing challenges for associations is resistance to change. Staff and members may fear that Gen AI could displace jobs, reduce relevance, or disrupt established workflows. No wonder with headlines about IBM, Salesforce, Google, Duolingo, and other companies launching hiring freezes and even layoffs due to the rise of Gen AI. Indeed, a study of 800 hiring managers by Intelligent.com found that 78% plan to lay off some recently-hired staff due to the rise of Gen AI. Over a tenth plan to lay off 30 to 60% of recent hires! These employees have reasons to fear.
At the same time, Gen AI augments human capabilities, enabling employees to focus on more complex and creative tasks. For example, a study Headlines about major corporations like IBM and Salesforce implementing hiring freezes or layoffs due to AI adoption amplify anxieties. According to a 2023 Intelligent.com survey of 800 hiring managers, 78% planned layoffs due to Gen AI, with some considering cuts of up to 60% of recent hires.
Gen AI enables staff to focus on strategic, high-value tasks by automating repetitive processes. Association leaders can help ease fears by emphasizing Gen AI’s potential to enhance rather than replace roles.
A lack of understanding and expertise in Gen AI also fuels resistance. Many employees and volunteers may not fully grasp how AI works or its practical applications. Without adequate training, they are likely to view the technology with skepticism or confusion. This gap in knowledge can stall adoption and prevent associations from leveraging AI effectively. Association executives must invest in comprehensive education initiatives to demystify Gen AI and build confidence among their teams.
Technical integration presents another significant challenge. Many associations rely on legacy systems that may not seamlessly align with modern AI tools. Issues such as compatibility, data migration, and glitches can frustrate staff and delay implementation. Associations will need to allocate resources for robust testing, collaboration with AI vendors, and incremental rollouts to minimize disruptions.
Risks that Gen AI Disruption Will Harm Your Association
For association executives, data privacy and security concerns are paramount. Gen AI tools often process sensitive information, from member data to financial records. Any breach could severely damage trust and reputation. Associations must implement stringent security measures, such as encryption, access controls, and regular audits, to safeguard data integrity. Additionally, executives should ensure their AI systems comply with evolving privacy regulations to avoid legal complications.
Bias is another critical risk. Gen AI systems learn from historical data, which may contain embedded biases that lead to unfair outcomes. For associations committed to equity and inclusivity, this issue is particularly sensitive. Executives must prioritize ongoing monitoring and auditing of AI systems to identify and mitigate biases, ensuring fair and ethical outcomes in all AI-driven processes.
Over-reliance on Gen AI poses an existential risk to associations. While AI can automate many tasks, there is a danger of diminishing human judgment and critical thinking. Association leaders must ensure that AI serves as a supportive tool rather than a decision-maker, maintaining human oversight in key areas such as governance, member engagement, and strategic planning.
Ethical and societal implications of AI adoption also merit careful consideration. As Gen AI becomes more autonomous, associations may face tough questions about its role and alignment with organizational values. For instance, how can AI enhance member relationships without sacrificing the human touch that defines many associations’ appeal? Executives must proactively address these concerns, fostering discussions about responsible AI use that align with their mission and members’ expectations.
Strategies for Addressing Gen AI Disruption Risks
Association executives can take several steps to navigate these challenges:
- Invest in Education and Training: Build Gen AI literacy among staff and volunteers through targeted workshops, webinars, and on-demand resources. Focus on practical applications that align with organizational goals.
- Communicate Transparently: Address fears of job displacement by highlighting AI’s role as a collaborative tool that empowers, not replaces, human workers. Share success stories of how AI has enhanced productivity and innovation in similar contexts.
- Pilot and Scale Gradually: Test Gen AI tools in controlled environments before wider implementation. This allows associations to identify and resolve technical issues while building confidence among stakeholders.
- Prioritize Data Security: Work with IT teams and AI vendors to establish robust security protocols. Regular audits and compliance checks will help safeguard sensitive information.
- Maintain Human Oversight: Ensure that AI systems are used to support decision-making rather than replace it. Promote a culture of critical thinking to balance automation with human judgment.
- Monitor for Bias: Regularly evaluate AI systems to detect and address biases, ensuring equitable outcomes that align with the association’s values.
- Preserve the Human Touch: Use AI to enhance personalization and efficiency in member interactions, but maintain a strong human presence in relationship-building and strategic conversations.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
For association executives, the challenges and risks of Gen AI adoption represent opportunities for growth and innovation. By addressing resistance, investing in education, and implementing AI responsibly, associations can position themselves as forward-thinking leaders in their industries. Gen AI offers the potential to amplify human capabilities, streamline operations, and enhance member engagement—provided it is adopted thoughtfully and ethically.
By navigating these complexities with care, association leaders can harness the transformative power of Gen AI while staying true to their mission and values. The key is balancing technological advancement with the human elements that make associations indispensable to their members and communities.
Key Take-Away
To navigate Gen AI disrupt challenges, association leaders must address resistance, invest in education, ensure data security, and maintain human oversight. This balances AI’s potential to enhance operations while preserving trust, ethics, and… Share on XImage credit: Gustavo Fring/pexels
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky was named “Office Whisperer” by The New York Times for helping leaders overcome frustrations with hybrid work and Generative AI. He serves as the CEO of the future-of-work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts. Dr. Gleb wrote seven best-selling books, and his two most recent ones are Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams and ChatGPT for Thought Leaders and Content Creators: Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI for Innovative and Effective Content Creation. His cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 650 articles and 550 interviews in Harvard Business Review, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, CBS News, Fox News, Time, Business Insider, Fortune, The New York Times, and elsewhere. His writing was translated into Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Korean, French, Vietnamese, German, and other languages. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and speaking and training for Fortune 500 companies from Aflac to Xerox. It also comes from over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist, with 8 years as a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill and 7 years as a professor at Ohio State. A proud Ukrainian American, Dr. Gleb lives in Columbus, Ohio.