Bridging two worlds: What AI literacy can teach us across sectors

Earlier this month, in my One leap, many doors post, I shared why I chose to write about artificial intelligence at the beginning of my publishing career and how focusing on a topic I’m both deeply interested in and passionate about has led to meaningful transformations in my work as a consultant.

Today, I’m continuing that thread by bringing together two sides of my professional life: the author and publishing entrepreneur behind Clover Lane Publishing and the consultant who supports purpose-driven organizations in navigating emerging technologies like AI through my work with MDR Strategy Group.

This post draws on an article I originally published on LinkedIn, now thoughtfully adapted here for a wider audience.

I’m sharing it on the Clover Lane Publishing blog because I believe the conversation about AI belongs in creative, values-based spaces like this one, not only online professional networking platforms.

While the original piece was written specifically for professionals working in non-profit and social impact organizations, its core ideas are universal. If you're an author, educator, entrepreneur, or simply someone navigating a purpose-driven path, AI literacy helps us make more thoughtful, ethical, and informed decisions in a rapidly evolving world.

AI literacy: why it matters now more than ever

"Humanoid robot brushing up on AI fundamentals," generated by AI, edited in Canva.

If you’re using Microsoft Word, Canva, Google Search, Zoom, or any number of commonly used tools, including the latest smartphones, you’re already engaging with artificial intelligence. These tools have embedded AI that influences everything from drafting emails and writing proposals to designing book covers and annual reports, summarizing online meetings, conducting research, and more.

Many mission-driven organizations and creative professionals aren't intentionally integrating AI into their work, and that’s completely understandable. A non-profit might be hesitant due to concerns about bias, data privacy, available resources, or a lack of digital infrastructure. A writer or designer might avoid using AI because they feel it could dilute their creative voice, or they’re unsure where ethical boundaries lie. But the reality is, they don’t have to actively seek it out; it’s already happening around them. AI’s seamless integration makes it easy to overlook the need for thoughtful oversight and alignment with our values and goals.

AI is now a part of our everyday technology ecosystem. It often doesn’t feel like a radical shift, which is exactly why it deserves our attention.

You’re already operating in an AI-shaped world

Digital skills gaps and uncertainty around AI are slowing adoption across many sectors, including, but not limited to, non-profit, creative, and social impact spaces. While limited time, funding, training, and infrastructure are common barriers, so too are deeper hesitations: worries about job displacement, creative authenticity, ethical concerns, and a general feeling of overwhelm.

Still, AI is becoming embedded in how people and organizations communicate, analyze information, engage with others, and deliver services.

The influence of AI can be subtle, but make no mistake, it's actually quite significant:

• Google Search now uses AI to summarize answers from multiple sources, rather than sending users to individual websites.

• Canva comes with design and writing features powered by AI.

• Mailchimp uses predictive analytics to suggest the best time to send emails, segment audiences based on behavior, and recommend content.

• Salesforce offers AI-powered tools like Einstein to predict lead conversion, personalize outreach, and optimize donor or customer engagement.

• HubSpot uses AI to score leads, recommend follow-up actions, and personalize email sequences.

• Blackbaud (for non-profits) uses predictive models to identify likely donors, recommend outreach strategies, and increase fundraising effectiveness.

• Grammarly, Microsoft Office, and Zoom all use AI to enhance productivity and communication.

AI’s presence enters our personal and work lives through everyday tools, not with fanfare, but with quiet persistence. That’s why it’s critical to pay attention to how it shows up and how decisions about its use are made.

Why intentional use matters

This quote, from author and social commentator on technology and culture David Wong (aka Jason Pargin), has stayed with me:

New technology is not good or evil in and of itself. It’s all about how people choose to use it.

AI is not inherently good or bad. But how we use it, and how we choose not to, matters.

We don’t necessarily need more "shiny new objects" from Big Tech. What we do need, however, is space to think critically and act intentionally about our use of AI. Yet for many, understanding the fundamentals of AI and its potentials and pitfalls still lives in the “to-do later” pile, somewhere between cleaning out the junk drawer, writing that overdue report, and figuring out what all those subscription charges on your credit card are for. That’s understandable. The pace of change is fast, the surrounding hype exhausting, the ethical questions complex, and our time to learn can sometimes feel nonexistent.

But AI's impact is already reaching into our work, our conversations, our communities, and the decisions we make. No matter what you do professionally, whether you're supporting youth, advancing sustainability, teaching, running a business, writing, designing, or advocating for social justice, the use (and misuse) of AI is already touching your work.

Which is why investing in AI literacy is a meaningful next step.

AI literacy gives us, and the organizations we’re part of, a shared foundation. It means understanding what AI is and is not, where it’s already embedded, and how to ask thoughtful questions about the potential for bias, the problems with AI "hallucinations," the alignment with our values, its impacts on global energy and water use, and trust (to name a few).

Making thoughtful choices about AI starts with understanding what it is and how it works, being honest about how (and why) you use it, and ensuring your decisions about its use align with what matters most, whether that’s integrity, creativity, social justice, or human connection.

Questions worth asking

Engaging with AI doesn’t require technical expertise, but it does require asking better questions. That’s exactly where AI literacy comes in. Some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had with people since publishing my first two books on AI often start with ones like these:

• Does this AI tool reflect my voice, values, and intentions, or does it risk distorting them?

• Where do I want to draw the line when it comes to using tools like ChatGPT or image generators?

• Can automation genuinely support what I do, without compromising creativity, trust, or human connection?

• How can I make informed decisions about using AI tools, especially when I don’t fully understand what’s happening behind the scenes?

  
  

These might sound like tech questions, but they're actually not. They're questions about values, integrity, and the kind of impact we want to have.

When we don’t understand how a tool works, or what data and assumptions it’s built on, we run the risk of unintentionally reinforcing bias, misinformation, or misalignment with our own goals.

Where to begin your AI literacy journey

Begin by getting curious. You don’t need to become a tech expert to engage with AI in a meaningful way, but you do need to understand the basics, ask good questions, and reflect on how these tools align (or don’t) with your needs, values, and goals.

That kind of intentional engagement starts with learning. Whether you're exploring AI out of creative interest, professional necessity, or personal curiosity, there’s real power in simply knowing what these tools do, how they work, and where they’re already shaping your daily life.

And it’s not about doing it all at once. Small steps like reading a book, experimenting with a tool, or having conversations about AI with others can help you build the confidence to navigate AI with more clarity and intention.

Want to learn more?

Here’s a curated list of books that explore AI from a range of perspectives: creative, ethical, social, and practical. (And yes, I’ve included two of my own—thank you for indulging me.)

In no particular order:

The Age of AI: And Our Human Future by Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher is a thought-provoking exploration of how AI is reshaping knowledge, politics, and the human condition.

You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane offers a humorous, beginner-friendly look at how AI works, and often doesn’t, using real experiments and hilarious AI-generated results.

Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford provides a more critical lens on AI, investigating the environmental, political, and social costs behind AI technologies.

AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan is a blend of fiction and nonfiction that imagines possible futures shaped by AI, with thoughtful commentary by one of the world’s leading AI experts.

Essentials of AI for Beginners by Melissa Peneycad is a friendly, jargon-free introduction to artificial intelligence designed for anyone curious about what AI is and how it’s already shaping the world around us.

Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble is a powerful and eye-opening look at how seemingly neutral technologies like Google search can perpetuate systemic racism, written by a Black feminist scholar and digital equity expert.

Generative AI Basics & Beyond by Melissa Peneycad is a practical, hands-on guide to understanding and experimenting with generative AI tools, perfect for beginners and those with more experience who want to go beyond the hype and build confidence in real-world use.

Let's keep the conversation going!

I wrote this post because I believe AI literacy isn’t about becoming an expert; it’s about gaining enough understanding to make intentional choices about its use. Whether you’re writing, creating, teaching, designing, or running your own business, a little clarity around AI can go a long way.

I’d love to hear how you’re thinking about AI in your work or life. Share a thought in the comments or connect with me directly. I’m always up for a good conversation!