AI as my Copilot

There is no doubt that AI-powered tools are becoming increasingly powerful and present in day-to-day work across almost all industries in some capacity. Most large technology companies are all in on this front and have made it clear that it will completely revolutionize how we interface with information and technology going forward. Though we are in the early stages of AI being commonplace, there are some concerns that AI and LLMs (Large Language Models) might replace certain jobs or skills. While that has certainly taken place in some industries, I believe that AI’s more immediate and perhaps more powerful influence will be making already talented and qualified knowledge workers even more competitive and valuable in their roles. They will not only be able to leverage AI to expedite their work, but can also provide real project context, lived experience, a discerning eye, and potentially trust that AI itself cannot offer.

Considering Threespot’s specific landscape, these kinds of tools stand to impact the interactions and collaboration between nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and digital agencies in a big way. There are many areas in our realm of expertise where AI can benefit our delivery and the outcomes for our clients. Though, as a software engineer by trade and Threespot’s Director of Technology, I am certainly focused on how these kinds of tools can impact our technology practice, productivity, and the value we are able to bring to our process and clients.

The technology team at Threespot has been actively using GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI, for over a year or so now. This tool has garnered significant attention for its potential to revolutionize software development. By providing real-time code suggestions, a human-language chat interface directly in our coding environments (for asking for suggestions or even performing code review in real time), auto-completion based on context within projects, and more, Copilot streamlines the coding process and enhances developers’ productivity. But why does this matter, and how does this individual tool stand to bolster our engagements and the outcomes of our clients

Efficiency in Development

One of the most immediate impacts of GitHub Copilot on NPO-digital agency collaborations is the potential for increased efficiency in development processes. With Copilot’s assistance and suggestions, developers can expedite tasks such as building or updating websites, applications, or digital platforms. By automating certain aspects of coding, Copilot reduces the time developers need to spend on repetitive tasks, resulting in faster turnaround times for projects.

Cost Savings

In addition to efficiency gains, GitHub Copilot can lead to cost savings for both NPOs and digital agencies. By streamlining development processes and reducing the time required for coding tasks, Copilot effectively lowers the labor costs associated with digital projects. For NPOs operating on limited budgets, these savings can make digital services more accessible, enabling them to allocate more resources toward their core mission objectives and more novel ideas.

Innovative Solutions

Oftentimes NPOs are operating within fairly modest limits in terms of time and dollars. The introduction of GitHub Copilot can allow digital agencies to explore more innovative and creative solutions for nonprofit projects, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible based on budgets and timelines. This can result in more tailored and robust solutions for NPOs, ultimately enhancing their impact and reach within their communities.

Enhanced Collaboration

GitHub Copilot has the potential to facilitate collaboration between digital agencies and their clients. By proposing solutions in real time, Copilot enables smoother and faster communication and collaboration on projects. Developers can leverage Copilot’s capabilities to brainstorm ideas, address challenges, and iterate on solutions more efficiently. This allows agencies to jumpstart technical research tasks and keep conversations and ideas flowing with their clients and moving forward like never before, inherently leading to stronger outcomes for NPOs.

Skill Augmentation

Another significant implication of GitHub Copilot is its potential to augment the skills of developers within digital agencies. By providing AI assistance for coding tasks, Copilot enables developers to tackle a broader range of tasks or technologies with greater confidence and efficiency and expedite learning in the process. This is particularly beneficial for NPOs working with smaller teams/agencies or those with limited specialized expertise. Copilot empowers developers to deliver on diverse project requirements that might otherwise be out of reach. The tool can complement a team’s existing skills and experience, mitigating the need to ramp in other team members, thus saving time and money.

GitHub Copilot represents a paradigm shift in software development with far-reaching implications for NPO-digital agency relationships. From increasing efficiency and cost savings to fostering innovation and enhancing collaboration, Copilot offers numerous benefits for NPOs and the digital agencies that support them. As NPOs continue to leverage digital solutions to advance their missions, the integration of tools like Copilot holds tremendous promise for driving positive change and making a meaningful impact in communities around the world.

If you are not already asking your digital partners about their position on AI-enhanced workflows, you should be. Here are a few potential questions to help start the conversation:

• Will your deliverables include any generative code or content stemming from AI-powered tools?
• Are there any risks or challenges with accuracy in the work AI-powered tools help produce?
• How have AI-enhanced workflows led to previous successes with other partnerships?
• How does the use of these kinds of tools align with your existing information security policies? (A topic for an entire article of its own)
• What are the considerations in terms of “ownership” and “copyright” for anything that is generated with AI-assistance?