01/31/2025

How Gen AI Redefines the Skills Associations Need To Thrive

Adjust your mindset to adapt to this new era of generative AI

"Evolve or perish" has been the mantra of survival throughout history, but today, associations stand at a new crossroads. This time, evolution isn’t driven by nature—it's being shaped by our own creation: generative artificial intelligence. As Gen AI tools like ChatGPT transform the way we work, learn and engage, the instinct to view these changes as a threat is understandable. But for association executives, the —and the intentional shedding of certain outdated skills—is not a liability but an opportunity to amplify member value, streamline operations, and focus on what truly matters.

Learning from History

When was the last time you performed a complex calculation on paper? Probably not recently. In the 1970s, calculators rendered manual arithmetic largely obsolete, sparking fears about the decline of math skills. Yet, the adoption of calculators didn't make us less capable—it freed us to focus on higher-order thinking, complex problem solving and strategic decision making.

Similarly, the "Google effect" in the early 2000s revolutionized how we access and store information. Critics bemoaned the erosion of memory as search engines became our go-to resource for instant knowledge. Yet this shift enabled people to offload rote memorization, allowing greater focus on creativity, critical thinking, and applying knowledge effectively.

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