A panel that will champion the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the social sector has been launched today. 

The Charity AI Task Force will promote “responsible, inclusive and collaborative use of AI across the social sector for maximum impact and collective benefit”. 

The panel, which has been brought together by Cast, a charity that helps social sector organisations make better use of digital technology, and the consultancy Zoe Amar Digital, aims to provide the same level of recognition and support as the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce set up by the government in 2024. 

The Charity AI Task Force consists of more than 20 member organisations, including the National Lottery Community Fund, CharityComms, the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, the housing charity Shelter and the Big Give. 

Organisers said the panel would initially examine four key areas, although these are expected to change over time. 

The four areas are: 

• Acting as a collective voice for AI in the charity sector.
• Influencing responsible, ethical (including environmentally friendly) and inclusive AI use in and outside the sector.
• Encouraging collaboration between key groups including funders, regulators, large and small charities, business and the public sector.
• Aligning efforts to ensure quicker/better support for the sector.

One of the group’s first tasks is expected to be to respond to the government’s new AI opportunities action plan. 

Speaking at the launch of the task force today, David Knott, chief executive of the National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Artificial intelligence is no longer a topic of the future or an operational matter for tomorrow – it is the defining strategic question of our time. 

“As funders and civil society leaders, we have a responsibility – not just to understand AI but to ensure that it serves people and communities.

“Coming together to collaborate across the sector to ensure AI works for communities, for everyone and not just the few, isn’t just a choice – it’s a moral imperative."

Dan Sutch, director of Cast, said there was a “real appetite for connection across the sector” with regard to AI. 

“That’s why we feel it is vital at this point for social sector organisations – and the supporting infrastructure – to come together and navigate a path through the rapidly-changing AI landscape,” he said. 

“We know that if we can share challenges, identify opportunities, foster partnerships and advocate for support as one unified voice, our presence and influence within this new technology will be strengthened beyond measure.”

Read Zoe Amar’s Third Sector column about the new taskforce