Carrie Cobb, Chief Data Officer at Blackbaud, speaks with ElectrifAi CEO Ed Scott, in a video interview about clients’ use of generative AI, the difference in the approach between small and large organizations, and AI adoption for midsize to smaller players.
Blackbaud is a cloud company that provides cloud software, services, expertise, and data intelligence for social good.
Speaking on how Blackbaud’s clients are considering using generative AI, Cobb says that many are looking at software technology firms to bring in AI tools within the software they utilize. She explains that Blackbaud is helping clients incorporate the technology within the tools they use daily.
When asked about the differences in the way small and large organizations interact with AI and ML, Cobb says that regardless of the size, they all need the standard building blocks of AI like governance, policy, training and empowering users, and putting the right tools in place.
She reveals that successful nonprofit organizations are doing things like creating a generative AI council including organizational experts (internal or external) to have conversations around best practices, to spark debate and challenge assumptions, and to get to the target use cases.
Cobb further urges smaller organizations considering AI/ML use cases to have a curious mindset, experiment, play with the tools, and ask peers to learn. She adds that training and experimenting with the tools can spark creativity and teach at the same time.
Further, Cobb suggests thinking big but starting small. She elaborates that showing direct business value at each of the steps will help bring people along who will walk on that path to the final journey. She stresses the need to have everyone from the organization on that path, helping out and excited.
CDO Magazine appreciates Carrie Cobb for sharing her insights with our global community.
