TLDR
Smaller NGOs can use artificial intelligence for free or small fees via numerous apps. ChatGPT is one of the first and easiest to use.
Outline
The current situation in Haiti
ChatGPT in a nutshell
Potential Issues
Fun (ChatGPT) Facts to Know and Tell
Examples of how NGOs can use ChatGPT
Links for a deeper dive
The Current Situation
I am not in-country and my lack of experience on the ground renders my opinion next to useless. However the view from afar is heart stopping - the things I’ve heard and some of you have likely witnessed. So in an edition in the near future we will be hearing from NGOs on the ground - the experts -on what they’ve experienced and what steps they have taken to keep staff and children safe.
Nutshell
In a nutshell, nonprofits use the ChatGPT to reduce the amount of time it takes to write the myriad of documents and emails and social posts that all nonprofits produce. ChatGPT is free.
This link will bring you to ChatGPT. You need an account first - very easy to sign up - you can use your Gmail account if desired. It keeps a record of your questions (or “chats”. ChatGPT now has an app for iPhone -not yet from Android. Be wary of other apps providing access to ChaptGPT - many are “fleeceware” - apps that sign you up for a subscription that is hard to terminate.
This newsletter is a microdot in a sea of information on ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in general. I wanted to keep this as brief as possible while still helpful for busy leaders. Many consider the impact of AI upon society similar in scope to social media and we are only just at the beginning.
A Bit Deeper
ChatGPT was the first widely available Artificial Intelligence search engine (or “model”) Other free AI models are Bard - from Google and Bing from Microsoft. It’s built on the input of billions of pieces of all kinds of texts on the English web from resumes to contracts to gardening catalogs. It “knows” the difference in format, content and tone from a NIV Bible passage to a 10th grade world history textbook and can duplicate it.
And the more you put into a request the better the response. AI is different from a Google search in that a typical search engine like Google is looking for the exact string of text while models using AI appear to be a human answering a question.
Most of the time ChatGPTs response will need to be modified somewhat to match the style of your organization’s communications. Consider its responses as a really useful first draft.
Potential Issues
There are two issues around AI that you need to be aware of. Ethical use of AI and bias inherent in AI. Ethicists around the world are wrestling with the myriad ways AI can be used and misused and how to address them. A glaring example is passing off work that is being graded or compensated for as being written by oneself when actually it is composed by AI. ( I believe the examples I provide of use by an NGO are ethical uses of AI.)
Bias is another area of concern. Just as AI has been shown to have a bias towards white skin and Caucasian features it also has one around language. The bias would center around English sources to begin with - not Kreyòl - for example. And sources that a white middle class or upper class person would encounter on the web are the predominant sources. For example AI likely draws more from gardening texts than the 1960’s Black Panther newspaper.
Many, many other apps are being built on top of the software that powers ChatGPT. Examples range from using natural language to figure out formulas in Excel - image manipulation- summarizing zoom meetings. I will discuss these in future issues.
Fun Facts to Know and Tell (remember that column from the Highlights in the dentist office back in the day?)
ChatGPT “knows” nothing past 2021. If you request current facts such as current politicians it may “hallucinate” - give bizarre answers
All facts should be verified independently. Its strength is language processing and conversation. ChatGPT does not cite its sources.
ChatGPT makes mistakes. Some are obvious. Others not so much.
It can take longer for ChatGPT to generate a response than a search on Google.
You may get a “busy signal”. Try again later.
The more details you provide the better the response.
Here are examples of chats I had with ChatGPT
“Donor thank you letter mentioning all 54 6th graders passed the national exam “
“Monthly board report based on this list [then paste in a simple of list of that month’s accomplishments]”
“Post about May 1 day holiday in Haiti for labor and agriculture for Facebook”
“Springtime fundraiser ideas”
“How to put on a fun run” [refining it]” what permits are needed?”
“Employee manual for small nonprofit [refining it] “include issues related to Haiti”
“Culturally appropriate guidelines for visitors to Haiti orphanages”
“Book discussion guide for “When Helping Hurts”” (for monthly donor book club)
“Checklist for a nonprofit audit [refining it] “ what are the fundraising policies?”
Links for a Deeper Dive
Explanation of ChatGPT from simple version of Wikipedia
ChatGPT for Nonprofits: Maximizing Impact with the Power of AI
ChatGPT Prompt Engineering: A Guide for Nonprofit Fundraisers
Did you find this newsletter useful? Consider sending it on to colleagues.
This is a service of Haitian Education - a resource specifically for educational NGOs working in Haiti.
I also post on the Linkedin group: Haiti- Nonprofit Educational Programs - ask to join.
If you wish to contact me I can be found via LInkedin or send me an email: winifred.flint@gmail.com
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