AI Tools, Guidance and Safer Starting Points.

What it is: ChatGPT, from OpenAI, is a chat-based AI assistant you type questions or instructions into, and it replies in writing.

Charity example: Drafting or checking the wording of a routine volunteer email, summarising notes that contain nothing confidential, or suggesting ideas for a newsletter feature.

What to check first: What it can do, and how your information is handled, depends on the account and plan you use. Check your organisation's approved account and the data settings before entering anything personal or confidential, and check every answer before you rely on it.

What it is: Claude, from Anthropic, is a chat-based AI assistant that responds to written questions and instructions.

Charity example: Making a draft policy easier to read, checking a letter for tone, or turning non-confidential meeting notes into a short summary.

What to check first: What it can do, and how your information is handled, depends on the account and plan you use. Check your organisation's approved account and the data settings before entering anything personal or confidential, and check every answer before you rely on it.

What it is: Microsoft Copilot is the name Microsoft uses for its AI assistant, which appears both as a standalone chat tool and inside some Microsoft products.

Charity example: Drafting a first version of a meeting agenda, rewording text to make it clearer, or suggesting ideas for a volunteer thank-you message.

What to check first: There are several versions of Copilot, and what each one can see and do depends on your account, licence and organisation's settings. Do not assume work-account protections apply. Check which version your organisation has approved and how it handles data before entering anything personal or confidential.

What it is: Google Gemini is Google's AI assistant, which you can use as a chat tool and which also appears in some Google products.

Charity example: Brainstorming event names, checking a draft for clarity, or summarising non-confidential notes into a few bullet points.

What to check first: What it can do, and how your information is handled, depends on the account and plan you use. Check your organisation's approved account and the data settings before entering anything personal or confidential, and check every answer before you rely on it.

What it is: An AI research assistant that grounds its answers solely in the documents you upload.

Charity example: Uploading your own published strategy documents to quickly query them or generate FAQs based strictly on the text.

What to check first: Ensure you have the right to upload the documents. Check that it hasn't missed nuances in your original text.

What it is: An AI-powered notepad for meetings that drafts notes from your conversation. Granola is UK GDPR compliant.

Charity example: Capturing action points and decisions during an internal team meeting without distracting the host.

What to check first: Check whether the tool joins as a visible participant or records audio locally. Ensure attendees are informed.

What it is: An AI tool for creating presentations, documents, and webpages rapidly.

Charity example: Producing a quick slide deck outline for a training session from a list of bullet points.

What to check first: Review the layout, images, and content for accuracy and tone. Do not include confidential data in the prompt.

What it is: A voice dictation AI that turns speech into polished writing.

Charity example: Dictating quick notes or a draft email while on the move or for accessibility purposes.

What to check first: Check the transcription for misunderstood words and ensure dictation is done in a private space if discussing sensitive topics.