An Increasing Role Within the Sector
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly found its way into the day-to-day life of organisations across all sectors, including our own. From helping us manage our workloads to raising deep ethical questions, AI is changing how we work and how we think about the future.
At TSI (Perth & Kinross), we’re starting to explore what AI means for us, the communities we serve, and for the wider work we carry out throughout Perth & Kinross. Posts like these are just the beginning of a huge conversation. Explore how AI is reshaping the third sector and join the conversation by sharing your insights, questions, or experiences.
AI in Action
To support our work, we’ve already found some practical ways to make use of AI. For example, tools like Fathom automatically summarise our internal meetings, making it easier to reflect on and share our discussions, without the need for frantic note-taking.
We’ve also used platforms such as ChatGPT to help proofread and shape documents, freeing up our time to focus more on strategy, people, and purpose. These may seem like small examples, but they highlight how AI can enhance as opposed to replace human effort.
“AI automation should begin with human intent and end with human judgement.“
This particular statement stood out after attending a SCVO DigiShift webinar last week, it was a powerful reminder that while AI can support our work, it’s people who ultimately guide the wider decisions, values, and impact.
We’re Not Alone in Asking Questions
We’re not the only ones thinking about this. Across the sector, third sector organisations are beginning to ask a variety of important questions, such as:
- How can AI improve services for communities?
- What risks should we be aware of?
- Who benefits – and who might be left behind?
Helpful resources like SCVO’s “25 Questions Charities Are Asking About AI in 2025”, The Civic AI Observator | Substack, and The AI Playbook for charities offer valuable insights into how the third sector is approaching these important questions. These tools are helping us explore the exciting possibilities of AI, while also reminding us to approach its use with caution.
Using AI Responsibly: Values, Ethics, and Impact
While AI can boost productivity, we’re mindful of the bigger picture. Tools that generate content or support decision-making raise important questions about transparency, fairness, and accountability. We’re committed to exploring innovation in a way that aligns with our core values and keeps all people at the centre.
Resources like GCVS’s guide to AI in fundraising show how AI can support the sector – while also reminding us of the risks, like losing the human connection in our work. And books like Feeding the Machine challenge us to think about the often-hidden human labour behind these tools. As we continue learning, we’re committed to using AI thoughtfully and with care for its wider impact.
What’s Next for Us?
Over the coming months, we’ll be learning more about how AI is being used in our sector and thinking through how we can use it responsibly.
We don’t have all the answers, and we’re not aiming to lead the AI conversation – but we want to be part of it.
If you have experiences to share, resources to recommend, or questions we should be asking, we’d love to hear from you.