This article is based on the updated ASAE ForesightWorks Driver of Change, The People-Automation Dynamic, and reflects insights gathered during two analysis sessions with association professionals who explored new forecasts, trends, and strategic insights. Their perspectives directly informed the themes, risks, and strategic considerations presented below.

Automation, including artificial intelligence, is rapidly reshaping how associations operate, learn, and deliver value. Yet even as intelligent systems take on more routine tasks, it is increasingly clear that people remain the essential differentiator. As automation standardizes processes and accelerates output, uniquely human qualities such as empathy, intuition, collaboration, and creativity grow even more critical. For association leaders, this reality presents both a challenge and an opportunity: The associations that thrive will be those that intentionally weave personal touch into every aspect of their culture, operations, and member experience.

Innovation Thrives With People at the Center

Innovation rarely happens in isolation. It relies on open and honest conversation, collaboration across boundaries, and shared exploration. While AI can analyze complex data and deliver insights, breakthrough ideas most often emerge when people bring emotional intelligence, lived experience, and imagination to the table. Recent studies show that AI-assisted teams tend to produce less creatively diverse solutions than teams that rely solely on people working together. This suggests that while AI can accelerate brainstorming, it can also be a constraint when over relied upon. Creativity flourishes in ambiguity, and people are uniquely equipped to navigate uncertainty, question assumptions, and connect seemingly unrelated ideas.

Associations should maximize their available human resources. Their staff and members should be regularly brought together in generative discussions, cross-sector collaborations, and well-designed meetings that encourage exploration. Association leaders can foster these interactions to spur innovation. The key is to use AI as an amplifier that supports— not supresses — individual and group creative thinking.

Personal Judgment Drives Quality

While automation can drive consistency and speed, high-quality member experience, industry guidance, and professional practice still depend on personal judgment, empathy, and trust. It is easy to get caught up in the pressure to produce more, but leaders should aim for balance, pairing standardized services delivered by AI with high-touch, people-to-people interactions. This blend enhances customer satisfaction and strengthens perceived value. For associations, it means elevating the personal and relational dimensions of their work. From member services to event design, listening closely, anticipating needs, and responding authentically create loyalty and credibility that algorithms cannot replicate.

Maintaining meaningful human oversight also ensures ethical and high-quality outcomes in AI-enabled systems. Associations can take a leadership role in defining standards for when and how people must remain “in the loop” on AI-driven decisions within their professions and industries. Leaders who champion these frameworks not only safeguard quality but also reinforce the association’s role as a trusted steward of professional and business integrity.

Training for Core Human Competencies

The future workforce will place higher value on skills machines cannot replicate, including emotional intelligence, storytelling, collaboration, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making. Associations can lead by example, helping both staff and members build these capacities. Training programs should evolve beyond teaching technical skills to also include creativity, adaptability, and interpersonal connections. Experiential learning, mentorship, and storytelling sessions can develop member capabilities in these areas. Association events can shift their metrics to measure success not merely by attendance or revenue, but also by the depth and quality of relationships formed.

Building a People-First Culture

To succeed, a people-first philosophy should be more than a slogan. Associations should embed inclusive leadership into their strategies and operations, encourage diverse perspectives, and build people-centered values into mission statements, strategic plans, and performance measures.

A few initial steps to take include:

• Reframe AI integration. Focus on hybrid workflows that use machines to handle data and logistics, letting people focus on interpretation, innovation, and relationship building.
• Prioritize staff and volunteer development programs focused on people skills. Strengthen internal culture and external relationships by building capacity in areas such as empathy, storytelling, and trust-building.
• Design meetings for connection and reflection. Reserving in-person time for strategy, dialogue, and creative exploration rather than routine updates.
• Foster belonging and psychological safety. Create hybrid workplaces that ensure every individual feels heard, valued, and empowered to contribute.

The Personal Edge in a Machine World As

AI continues to evolve, the associations that stand out will be those that elevate the human element. Automation may deliver efficiency, but only people deliver meaning. In the coming years, the most successful associations will not be the most technologically advanced, but the most attuned to their people. By putting members, staff, and volunteers first, association leaders can ensure that their organizations remain resilient and indispensable in an age of intelligent machines.

ASAE’s ForesightWorks Driver of Change, The People-Automation Dynamic, has been newly released with updated forecasts, strategic insights, and recommended actions. You can purchase the updated driver as part of the Just the Updates: Fall 2025 collection, or—if you already own the Essentials Collection—the latest version will appear automatically in your member account.