BSL explores new ways of working with an AI tool

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) recently undertook an eight-week AI pilot to assess productivity, accessibility, and responsible use across the organisation. The trial showed positive results.

Staff involved in the pilot found AI saved them around an hour a day, freeing them up to work more closely with the community that we serve. The technology also helped to improve accessibility for staff experiencing language barriers and those with neurodiverse needs. 

  “AI has great potential to help community organisations work smarter, reach more people and tackle long standing barriers to access and equity – if it’s done right.” Dr Travers McLeod, Executive Director of BSL said. 

“Used responsibly, AI can free up human time in a way that can generate more impact for the communities in which we work and support.” 

But as Dr McLeod cautioned: “There is growing concern the uptake of AI can, and is, leading to job losses - affecting already vulnerable workers and communities. We need to plan to manage the impact of AI on employment across the country - something that is on our minds at BSL, given our purpose and focus on supporting people to find and secure meaningful work. 

Strong ethical guardrails and a clear framework for lawful and ethical AI use, along with its environmental impact, especially in the care economy will be very important. 

Community organisations, vulnerable communities and people with lived experience need to be part of designing this with government. We’d encourage capacity-building for community organisations and the care economy, particularly for smaller organisations so they aren’t left behind, and for government to support pilots, partnerships, and platforms that use AI for good.

AI is upon us. It must be used as an accelerant of equity and better outcomes for all, not in a way that grows inequity and poverty,” said Dr McLeod.

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