Computer-Generated Images in Nonprofit Marketing: We Want to Hear Your Thoughts at Cherish!
Dear Cherish Uganda family,
It seems like everyone is talking about AI. If you’re not familiar with the buzz, you probably do know that technology is changing fast. The possibilities can be exciting and also scary.
As followers of Christ, we are called to bring light into the world and be good stewards as we do. In this rapidly changing digital age, new technologies are emerging that can help us fulfill this mission more effectively. One such technology is the use of computer (AI)-generated images in faith-based nonprofit marketing.
It is completely understandable that some individuals might feel apprehensive about the integration of AI technology into the faith-based, nonprofit world. We understand how many people may feel concerned, or even fearful, as it can make it difficult to decipher the truth. This fear could stem from concerns about how AI-generated content might affect the authenticity and transparency that many people value in the faith-based nonprofit sector. Additionally, the rapidly evolving nature of AI technology may evoke a sense of unease as people struggle to keep up with these advancements and fully comprehend their implications. Acknowledging these concerns is vital in fostering an open dialogue about the responsible use of AI in the faith-based nonprofit sphere, ensuring that the technology is implemented in ways that align with the values of transparency, integrity, and ethical stewardship.
We are on the cusp of a new era with this new technology, and at Cherish Uganda, we want to be a leader in finding a way to embrace the technology while glorifying God. We want to set an example of how a nonprofit can use AI-generated images while still being transparent and trustworthy.
We have identified three main benefits of using AI-generated images at Cherish Uganda:
Budget: For several of these images or illustrations (featured below), we would never have been able to produce them due to budget constraints. We can now produce incredible imagery to go alongside Cherish's real stories of life change with very little cost! This means we can capture more people's attention with remarkable imagery, but still guarantee that every dollar you donate will go straight to impact rather than bloated marketing budgets.
Privacy Issues: There are many stories at Cherish Uganda we would love to share, but we don't have images to coincide with the stories because we prioritize protecting a person's identity. AI-generated images can help visually tell a story while fully respecting the confidentiality of the people we serve. (we can change their name and use a computer generated image). Sometimes patients do give us permission to share their image, but this can bring respect for their privacy to a new level.
No Disruption: So many people are visual learners - that's why they say a picture says 1000 words! Getting quality photos does require a level of disruption in programmatic work (i.e. disrupting a school day at Cherish). With AI-generated images, we can get photos that complement a story without disrupting our work or by going into the home of a family with people and photo equipment to capture their story.
We want to assure you that if we ever release a computer-generated image, we would ALWAYS be upfront and make sure that it is noted that the image is AI for the sake of transparency. IF we ever use computer-generated imagery, it would only be in situations of privacy protection or for the sake of a campaign (perhaps only 10% or less of our photos a year would be computer-gernerated photos).
Speaking of which, we do plan on using AI generated imagery in our upcoming Christmas in July campaign: the images are not to depict stories at cherish, they will be images of Santa solely for the campaign promotion. Due to budget constraints, we were unable to get the REAL Santa, so we figured AI would do! We hope you understand.
Here are some examples of computer generated images our team put together:
We would love to hear your thoughts on this idea of using computer-generated images at Cherish Uganda.
Please take a moment to participate in our short survey (~1 minute of your time) and/or share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Your feedback is invaluable to us as we continue to seek God's guidance in our ministry and explore new ways to share the life-changing stories of those we serve.
May God continue to bless you and guide us all in our journey to serve Him.
Sincerely,
The Cherish Uganda Team