The Future of Social Impact in the Age of AI

Alissa:
When we talk about AI, most people think about tools, automation, or what it means for productivity at work. But today, I want to shift that lens. We’re exploring something much more human: how AI can help us scale empathy, deepen community connections, and unlock new possibilities in volunteering and social impact.

Caroline, you’ve been at the intersection of tech and purpose for years, and you’ve seen movements shift in real time. From your perspective, what does this moment represent?

Caroline:
It’s such a pivotal moment, Alissa. What I’m seeing is that we’re entering an era where AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency — it’s becoming a catalyst for creativity, connection, and empowerment, if we use it intentionally.

In the social impact world, so many nonprofits are stretched thin. They don’t have the staff, the time, or the technical infrastructure that corporations do. AI can unlock capacity for them in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago.

But what excites me most is how AI can augment people, not replace them. Volunteers can show up with more context. Employees can contribute skills they didn’t even know they had. And nonprofits can finally shift from reactive to strategic because they have new air in the system.

We are just scratching the surface, and the opportunity is huge — not just to do more, but to do more meaningfully.

Alissa:
You often talk about “co-volunteering with AI,” which I love because it reframes the narrative. It isn’t “AI instead of people,” it’s “AI alongside people.” Can you share what that looks like in practice?

Caroline:
Absolutely. Picture a volunteer building a job readiness guide for a youth-serving nonprofit. That used to take them eight, ten, sometimes fifteen hours. With AI, you can turn that into a ninety-minute sprint: ideation, outline, first draft, refined draft — all supported by the volunteer’s critical thinking, lived experience, and heart.

So instead of asking a volunteer for a weekend, you ask them for an hour. And because the lift feels doable, they’re more likely to come back. That’s how you grow participation and deepen commitment. AI becomes the scaffolding that lets people focus on the parts of service that are deeply human.

Alissa:
That’s such an important distinction — AI removes friction, but people bring the soul. And that ties into this bigger question: how do we ensure that in a rapidly evolving world, AI becomes a force for belonging, not division?

Caroline:
Belonging is the work of humans. AI can’t replace that, but it can help create the conditions for it.

If we think about volunteering, belonging often emerges when people realize:
“You care about this thing too. We’re in this together.”
AI helps people get to that moment faster because they’re spending less time overwhelmed by logistics and more time in meaningful connection.

And when nonprofits can finally be proactive — not drowning in admin — they can create volunteer experiences that are intentional, joyful, and rooted in community need. That’s where belonging happens.

Alissa:
There’s also this global shift you’ve talked about — how talent, purpose, and impact are converging. And suddenly AI isn’t just a workplace conversation; it’s a social impact conversation. How do you see companies responding?

Caroline:
More companies are realizing that employees want three things: to feel connected, to feel useful, and to feel like their work matters beyond the bottom line.

AI-enabled volunteering hits all three.

Employees get to apply emerging skills. They get to see a tangible outcome. And they get to contribute to missions that align with who they are.

And for companies, this is a massive opportunity. You can build a workforce that is skilled, connected, and grounded in purpose — while also delivering measurable community impact.

It’s a win for employees, a win for nonprofits, and a win for the world.

Alissa:
Caroline, this was such a rich conversation. Thank you for helping us reimagine what’s possible when technology and humanity work together toward impact.

Caroline:
Thank you, Alissa. I’m excited about where this is headed — and even more excited about the good we can create together.