We believe that we are living through a moment in time where individuals are faced with a choice they may not even be aware of: learn to use AI tools and build with them in service of your aims, or be swept up by the wave of the AI revolution and remain a passive consumer forever.
People working in charities, community associations and social enterprises may not have the time or impetus to learn to use these tools - we want to help change that. So we run in-person workshops where charities, community associations and social enterprises build with AI, guided by people who already do.
We go looking for charities, community associations and social enterprises doing good work without much technical help, and invite them to free in-person workshops. At each one, people who use AI in their own jobs show staff what the current tools can do.
The staff do the making themselves, on a problem their organisation has brought along, whether that's a workflow, a website or content. Our aim is that they know the tools well enough to keep building after we've gone.
| No. | Part | Qty. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organisation doing good work, short on technical staff | 1 |
| 2 | Builder with working AI experience | 1+ |
| 3 | AI tools, current generation | — |
| 4 | Problem the organisation wants solved | 1+ |
The foundation is currently in the process of formation and we are actively seeking partners, supporters and others who share our mission.
Our aim is to exist in the physical world connecting real people in actual locations to help them pick up the tools of today. In our initial phase of operation, the primary focus of the Foundation will be the United Kingdom, but we are very open to collaboration with international partners.Fig. 2 — Assembly, in progress. (1) Partners. (2) Supporters. (3) Those who share the mission. Body: the foundation.
Parts sought — see section 4.
Following a decade of public service, including working with human rights defenders in South Sudan and Iraq as a British diplomat, our founder James Oates came to realise that the only thing that really matters is the ability of individuals to take action to make real change in the real world. When he started working with AI as a technology policy adviser for the UK government, he came to appreciate how difficult it was for busy people doing the most important work to get to grips with the tools that would allow them to make an even greater impact.
He developed the Foundation for Personal Agency to help social enterprises, small charities and community associations to pick up the tools that are now available to them and learn to use them. James believes that small organisations working in their communities should benefit fully from the AI revolution, the Foundation aims to help ensure that happens.
Fig. 3 — Operator. (1) J. Oates, founder. (2) Power source: passion. (3) Batteries: not required.
Tools not shown — see fig. 1.
If your organisation wants to build with AI, write to us. The same goes if you could help as a trustee, partner, venue or volunteer builder.
[email protected]The Foundation for Personal Agency is in formation and is not yet registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. This site does not solicit donations. It sets no cookies and collects no personal data.