Q: Why is AI such a defining moment for social impact and volunteering today?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
AI represents a once-in-a-generation shift. It is becoming more powerful, more affordable, and more accessible at an unprecedented pace. In just a few years, AI has moved from basic question-and-answer tools to solving complex problems, understanding images and voice, and embedding itself into everyday workflows.

For social impact, this moment matters because nonprofits have historically been the last to receive best-in-class technology. AI changes that. It offers a chance to fundamentally reimagine volunteering by removing friction, expanding access, and amplifying human potential rather than replacing it.

Q: What are the major AI megatrends shaping the future of volunteering?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
There are several megatrends unfolding simultaneously. AI is becoming multimodal, meaning it understands text, voice, images, and video. It is becoming significantly smarter, capable of handling complex reasoning tasks. It is also becoming dramatically cheaper, with intelligence per dollar improving by orders of magnitude.

At the same time, AI is becoming embedded into how companies operate and how jobs are performed. This means volunteering, like every other function, must evolve to take advantage of these capabilities responsibly.

Q: What challenges do nonprofits face that AI can help address?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
Nonprofits are deeply resource constrained. They face funding pressure, limited staff capacity, and growing reporting and operational demands. Our research across more than 1,000 nonprofits in 30 countries shows they want AI support primarily in communication and storytelling, fundraising, data management, reporting, and training.

There is strong intent to use AI, but a significant gap between intent and action. Many nonprofits do not know where to start, how to embed AI into workflows, or how to use tools responsibly. This is where structured volunteering becomes critical.

Q: What is the “intent to action” gap in AI adoption?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
Most organizations believe AI is important, but very few are using it effectively. Many leaders are asked to create AI strategies without clear frameworks or confidence in safety and governance. AI tools on their own are not valuable unless they are embedded into real workflows.

This gap exists because of limited literacy, lack of in-house expertise, and rapid changes in AI technology. Volunteering can bridge this gap by providing guided, hands-on support that turns awareness into practical capability.

Q: How does AI amplify volunteering?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
AI can remove the administrative burden that often makes volunteering difficult to scale. Planning events, managing logistics, tracking checklists, and coordinating participants all consume time and energy.

By automating these tasks, AI makes volunteering more accessible, more engaging, and more impactful. The goal is not to remove the human element, but to use AI to amplify it by freeing people to focus on empathy, creativity, and community connection.

Q: How does volunteering amplify AI?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
AI literacy is becoming essential for employability, education, and access to opportunity. Yet AI talent is scarce and expensive, especially for nonprofits. Volunteers are one of the most powerful ways to bring AI expertise into the social impact space.

Through volunteering, employees help nonprofits learn how to use AI tools, build confidence, and apply AI responsibly. At the same time, volunteers deepen their own AI literacy by teaching and applying their skills in real-world contexts.

Q: Why is AI literacy such a critical issue for communities?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
AI is shaping the future of jobs, education, and services. Communities without AI literacy risk being left behind. Our research shows nonprofits want to use AI not only for efficiency but also to improve education programs, employability initiatives, and service delivery.

Closing the AI literacy gap is not optional. It is foundational to equitable progress, and volunteering provides a scalable way to deliver that literacy globally.

Q: What is the AI for All mission?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
AI for All is a global mission to close the AI skills gap by empowering nonprofits, schools, and communities through volunteering. It was designed by first listening to nonprofit needs and building solutions grounded in real challenges.

By 2030, the mission aims to deliver AI literacy to millions of students and empower tens of thousands of nonprofits through AI consulting, hackathons, and skills-based volunteering. The focus is accessibility, empowerment, and responsible use.

Q: How does Goodera approach responsible AI in volunteering?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
Responsibility is a core principle. AI must be intuitive, safe, and community-centered. It should empower people rather than intimidate them. We are intentional about data privacy, ethical use, and ensuring AI supports human judgment rather than replacing it.

The goal is to use AI as scaffolding, allowing humans to bring empathy, context, and lived experience to every engagement.

Q: How can companies design an AI and volunteering strategy for 2026?

Abhishek Humbad (Founder and CEO, Goodera):
The first step is reflection. Organizations need to understand employee AI proficiency, nonprofit needs, and how AI fits into their broader CSR and talent strategies. Not every employee needs to be an AI expert.

Effective strategies create multiple entry points, from non-engineers to advanced practitioners, and align volunteering with both community impact and employee learning outcomes.