Progressive grassroots activist groups must adopt AI or risk irrelevance | Opinion
Imagine this: A neighborhood association in Sacramento sends out a generic mass text, while another down in Fresno uses an artificial intelligence “chatbot” to craft individualized text messages to supporters. Which will draw a bigger crowd to the next meeting? It’s almost certainly the group that embraces new technology.
Simply put, grassroots organizations that ignore artificial intelligence will fall behind.
I am a volunteer who organizes nationally with Sunrise Movement, America’s largest youth-led climate organization. I know firsthand that most progressive grassroots groups are not implementing AI at the necessary scale. Mostly, we craft graphics, videos and documents by hand. Meanwhile, our competitors are taking advantage of this emerging technology: The internet is flooded with right-wing content generated by artificial intelligence. Deepfakes, targeted advertisements and automated Twitter bots are overwhelming our ability to organize online.
Progressive organizations like Sunrise risk fading into history if we fail to adjust to this new world. We will lose our fight for clean air, good jobs and a livable future unless we adapt now.
Artificial intelligence will supercharge efficiency in grassroots groups. By automating tedious tasks, volunteers spend less time on paperwork. For example, at Sunrise, I use AI to draft press releases and generate hundreds of slogans for picket signs. Hour-long chores can now happen in seconds.
AI also enhances outreach. Instead of blasting out one-size-fits-all messages, activists can use it to personalize communications to each individual supporter’s interests. Ultra-personalized outreach boosts engagement and builds deeper relationships with our audience.
This isn’t theory: As a Harvard guide for organizers notes, AI tools are already here for activists to use. Many are free. ChatGPT and similar websites can draft a petition or summarize a dense policy brief instantly. You don’t need to be a coder or have a big budget — just an internet connection and some persistence.
Sierra Club provides a glimpse into what is possible. The environmental conservation organization uses an AI-driven legislative tracking software called Quorum to coordinate nationwide campaigns. The platform centralizes bill tracking and helps them respond quickly with unified talking points.
Some community organizers hesitate to use AI, worried about accuracy, bias and energy usage. These concerns are real. But not using AI won’t make them disappear — it just leaves our organizations at a disadvantage. Not adopting AI is far more dangerous than using it wisely.
We can responsibly use AI by setting clear guidelines, being transparent with supporters and, most importantly, keeping humans in the loop and always in charge. If an AI-generated email misses the mark, a human can fix it. I will never send out my AI-generated press release without thorough revisions.
Ultimately, the biggest threat to grassroots organizations isn’t that AI might err, it’s that refusing to use AI will make them obsolete.
Leading AI researchers believe that, by 2027, the technology will be better than humans at any cognitive task. If this prediction is true, every sector of society will need to adapt. Grassroots organizing is no exception.
The window for action is closing. Community organizers must take the leap into the AI era. They can start small: Attend a workshop on using ChatGPT for outreach, start a trial for a low-cost digital tool or enlist a tech-savvy volunteer to run a training.
If American social movements are serious about achieving the change we need in our society, we must learn to live with this new reality. Otherwise we are on a path to irrelevance.