AI (Artificial Intelligence) Hub
What this year's Charity AI Conference told us about where the sector really is
José reflects on what DSC's 2026 Charity AI Conference, and the new Charity Digital Skills Report, reveal about where the charity sector really is with AI.
Last year, after our first AI conference, I wrote a piece setting out some simple best practices for using AI well (you can read it here). Reading it back now, the advice still stands. But the sector around it has changed significantly.
Last week we held our 2026 Charity AI Conference, and one thing was clear: the conversation has moved on. A year ago, many people were still asking where to begin. They were curious but cautious, unsure how to take the first step. This year, far more were thinking strategically: not just how to get started, but how to do it well, safely, and sustainably.
From experimentation to everyday
The day’s keynote came from Zoe Amar, who launched the Charity Digital Skills Report 2026.
The headline is that AI has moved from something charities experiment with to something they increasingly use. 79% of charities now use AI in some form, and the share using it actively or strategically has risen to 38%, up from 25% a year ago.
That is real progress. But beneath the average sits a gap I have returned to many times this year: larger charities are pulling ahead. 92% of large charities are now exploring, active or strategic with AI, compared with 74% of small ones. Adoption is rising across the board, but it is not rising evenly.
People, not technology
The finding that stayed with me most was this: the biggest barrier to AI adoption is no longer technology. It is us.
Limited skills and technical expertise are now the single biggest obstacle, cited by 56% of charities, up from 43% last year. And that figure is almost identical for large and small charities. Lack of training, data protection worries, and a striking rise in plain lack of trust — 35%, more than double last year — all sit close behind.
At the same time, 44% of charities have taken no action to progress with AI or manage its risks, and that group is made up mostly of smaller organisations.
What I saw in the room
The data reflected exactly what I experienced while delivering my session. This year’s attendees were noticeably further along. Last year, the questions were mostly about where to begin, from people who were curious but a little lost. This year, they were sharper — and, I think, the right ones: how do we start safely? Do we need an AI policy? Should we set up an internal working group? How do we test tools responsibly? What about the environmental impact? And where is all of this actually heading?
That is the shift. Last year, the room wanted a way in. This year, it wanted strategy.
From assistants to agents
My own session was practical, and what encouraged me most was where the engagement came from. When I showed how to build a simple assistant in ChatGPT, hands went up straight away, with many people asking how to do the same in Copilot, the tool they actually use day to day. When I moved on to something more agentic, people wanted concrete examples of agents they could safely test in their own organisations, and clear answers on how those agents handle data protection.
Those are the right questions. They are not about what AI can do in the abstract; they are about how to apply it in real charities, often in organisations where a single person is responsible for all the marketing or fundraising. That is exactly where practical, careful AI adoption matters most.
Where this leaves us
If last year was about awareness, this year is about judgement. The sector knows AI matters. The harder work now is building the skills, confidence and strategy to use it well, while making sure smaller charities are not left behind as larger ones pull further ahead.
The technology is no longer the hardest part. We are. And the good news is that this is a problem we can actually do something about.
Want to explore AI in your charity in a more conscious and practical way?
Here are some brilliant DSC resources to support you in your AI journey:
