In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale sits down with Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of Onward and Upward, to talk about how associations are using AI as more than just a tool—they’re treating it like a thought partner. Colleen shares real-world examples of AI helping with PR strategy, repurposing research, and freeing up time for small-staff associations. They also dig into why authenticity matters, how to set guardrails, and what it takes to make AI work without losing your human touch.

Themes and Topics:

AI in PR, Communications, and Research

• A national IT and workforce association used a custom GPT trained on PR strategy to brainstorm ideas and create strategic plans.
• AI helped identify targeted journalists and outlets for a research report, saving days of manual research and landing coverage that previously seemed impossible.
• AI transformed 100-page technical reports into member-friendly summaries, increasing engagement without replacing original research.

Small Associations Leveraging AI

• A small-staff association implemented an AI policy early, focusing on transparency and data protection.
• Weekly meetings encouraged staff to share AI use cases, leading to automation of job aids, survey analysis, and content repurposing.

Efficiency vs. Authenticity

• AI accelerates workflows, but human editing and fact-checking remain essential, especially in technical fields.
• Associations intentionally keep a “human roughness” in writing to avoid robotic tone and maintain authenticity.

Disclosure and Transparency

• Best practice: note when AI supports content creation (e.g., “This article was assisted by AI and edited by a human”).
• Transparency builds trust, even if disclosure norms evolve over time.

Infrastructure and Security

• Before implementing tools like Copilot, associations must secure their infrastructure and protect intellectual property.
• Data fencing and cybersecurity measures prevent unintended exposure of sensitive information.

AI as Amplification, Not Replacement

• AI should enhance human creativity and capacity, not erase it.
• The real win is amplification—doing more with the same resources while maintaining trust and authenticity.