Fundraising.AI
Episode 35
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OVERVIEW
This episode explores the double-edged nature of AI, reflecting on its power to accelerate life while emphasizing the importance of conscious, thoughtful AI use to preserve human values.
Meet Kelly Hecht, an executive advisor at Amazon Web Services (AWS), who focuses on the global healthcare and nonprofit sectors. She is dedicated to helping customers harness technology to drive mission impact and promote innovation in their industries.
During today’s conversation, Kelly reflects on the growing impact of AI on daily life. She shares the pressure of navigating an increasingly fast-paced world due to AI, likening it to being on a never-ending hamster wheel. Kelly stresses the importance of being conscious and deliberate in integrating AI into life to prevent feeling overwhelmed. She also emphasizes the value of learning from past technological shifts to understand AI’s current effects.
In discussing connection and information overload, Kelly agrees with Nathan on the overwhelming nature of constant AI-driven interaction. She mentions how AI algorithms, though applicable, contribute to the competition for attention and connection, which can sometimes be mentally taxing. AI’s role in amplifying information overload has directly affected her mental health, leading to an internal struggle to find balance.
Moreover, Kelly strongly advocates for intentionality and curiosity in AI usage. She talks about embracing uncertainty and the benefits of being open-minded about AI’s evolving role. By cultivating curiosity, Kelly believes individuals can stay ahead without losing essential human qualities like empathy and strategic thinking.
She also highlights the need to balance AI-driven efficiency and human values. Setting boundaries, maintaining awareness, and using AI consciously are crucial to ensuring it enhances life rather than dominates it. Kelly underscores the role of leadership in fostering a culture of curiosity and adaptability, especially in an AI-driven world.
Finally, she shares practical advice on how to use AI intentionally, recommending that people set daily checkpoints to reflect on AI’s role in their day and use the time saved for meaningful purposes. Kelly stresses the importance of respect and thoughtfulness in AI use, ensuring they align with personal and professional goals.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:41] Episode Introduction – Meet Kelly!
- [05:31] The Impact of AI on Human Life
- [09:03] Rapid Pace of AI and Information Overload
- [15:09] Intentionality and Curiosity in AI Use
- [32:36] Practical Tips for Using AI with Intentionality
TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY
- Take regular breaks to evaluate AI's impact on your tasks.
- Use tools to filter and prioritize important info.
- Stay open to learning new AI trends, but don't rush.
- Define when and how to use AI at work or home.
- Use AI to serve your goals, not overwhelm them.
- Use automation only where it adds real value.
- Use AI to enhance, not replace, human connections.
- Save time with AI but reinvest it in meaningful ways.
- Choose AI tools that align with your values.
- Be willing to change how you use AI as it evolves.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- "There is some information out there that we would be wise to borrow from and think about how it relates to the choices that we're making with today's most relevant innovation, which are different forms of AI and, in particular, the generative AI space." - Kelly Hecht
- "Some of our experience is a result of our maturity in using AI." - Kelly Hecht
- "For me, the tension I feel around information and access is less stimulated by AI right this minute, and more around the information overload." - Kelly Hecht
- "I feel like there is a constant bombardment of information that affects my psyche, my mental health, and that for me is driven by AI." - Kelly Hecht
- "All of those news outlets, all of those emails, all of my social media feed are all driven by different forms of AI. I don't necessarily connect those dots." - Kelly Hecht
- "I think more about AI as it relates to how it's helping me achieve something more efficiently, or more accurately, pretty quickly." - Kelly Hecht
- "When I'm using AI when I'm choosing to tap into it, whether it be for work or personal, I try to be intentional on a good day to think about what is the efficiency, the accuracy, or the more that it's providing." - Kelly Hecht
- "First is to be aware of where AI is showing up. Where is AI present in your world?" - Kelly Hecht
- "Figure out where AI is showing up, figure out where it's serving you well, and then give yourself permission to get curious about it." - Kelly Hecht
- "How you use the time saved by AI is up to you. If you want to use it to do more work, if you want to be the person that's just more, more, more, more work—great, as long as it's intentional that that's what you're trying to do. Go for it. How you use your time is yours." - Kelly Hecht
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MEET YOUR HOSTS
Nathan Chappell
As a thought leader, public speaker, author and inventor, Nathan is one of the world’s foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy. Nathan serves as Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI, where he leads AI deployments for some of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations. Nathan’s subject matter expertise has been featured in several publications, including Fast Company, University of Notre Dame and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. In 2021, Nathan founded Fundraising.Ai as a member-centric collaboration of nonprofit professionals with a focus on data ethics, data equality, privacy and security, sustainability. Nathan presented the first TEDx on the topic of artificial intelligence and the future of generosity in 2018. Nathan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.
Scott Rosenkrans
Scott Rosenkrans is the Assistant Vice President of DonorSearch Ai and has been with the organization for three years. He began his journey in the nonprofit sector twelve years ago as a prospect researcher. He quickly became fascinated with data as he noticed the organization that he previously worked for was amassing a wealth of information but was unsure how to efficiently use the data and resources to its full potential. This led him to become interested in predictive modeling and data analytics. During this time, he began to create an immense commitment to delivering tailor-made machine learning models to nonprofits.
The thing that Scott loves most about working for DonorSearch is the ability to prioritize what is best for the client and nonprofit sector above all else. He believes that growth is our most important core value because the DSAi team continuously evolves and brings a unique perspective that provides value to our clients. He stays ahead of industry trends because of his insatiable drive to constantly try out new things.
Favorite nonprofit: Shriner’s Children Hospital because of their extreme commitment to providing exceptional medical care, while also alleviating the financial burdens on families.
