Smart, Safe and Strategic: How Associations Can Harness AI to Drive Impact

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly shifted from a novelty to an operational necessity for associations. According to Momentive's 2025 Associations Trends study, the AI adoption rate among association professionals doubled year over year, to 39 percent. During the same time period, the share of organizations that report having an AI policy in place rose from 23 percent to 40 percent. Board conversations are ramping up, staff are experimenting and members increasingly expect the kind of personalized, data-driven engagement that AI makes possible.

But while enthusiasm has surged, readiness and strategy remain uneven. Many organizations still feel caught between curiosity and concern, eager to leverage AI's benefits but unsure how to do so safely or sustainably. Drawing from our professional experiences as a technology provider and an association professional in AI and data roles, we've seen that AI presents enormous opportunities, but only if associations thoughtfully approach it thoughtfully with governance and with a focus on people as much as technology.

Understanding the Current AI Landscape

AI adoption is accelerating in associations, but not every tool or approach is equal. While some organizations are still experimenting with free versions, many are investing in paid AI solutions to maintain control over sensitive data and ensure reliability. Organizations that pay for AI solutions typically benefit from greater privacy protections and tailored capabilities, while free tools, although accessible, may present risks if used with proprietary or personally identifiable information (PII).

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE's Center for Association Leadership.