Artificial intelligence is technology that many people use in their daily lives, but it's one that associations have been slower to adopt so far. Amith Nagarajan of rasai.io demysitfied some of the fears and unknowns surrounding the tech in his session Monday morning.

For generations, Nagarajan said, we have had to learn to speak computerese, but now natural language processing is allowing computers to understand our speech and writing, which flips the script. AI uses that information and other tools to learn on its own and deliver a more customizable experience to members.

For associations, that means a lot of new opportunities hitting the market now and in the near future. It's the start of a conversation for many associations, and one that may require a shift in culture to adopt a spirit of experimentation and a willingness to learn.

Nagarajan shared four specific ways that AI could be adapted by associations at all levels:

1. Chat bots

2. Virtual assistants (e.g., Siri and Alexa)

3. Smart inboxes and email responses

4. Personalized learning

What makes it the perfect time to experiment with new technologies like the above, even if they don't work perfectly the first time, is the current level of increased computing power, the data available to associations, a plethora of inexpensive tools on the market, and real-world applications that members' see in their own lives.

AI, while there does need to be a real discussion about security, ethical and privacy, is nothing to fear. The benefits, including reduced staff time spent on redundant tasks and a more valuable user experience, far outweigh the risks.

"You can be brave and scared at the same time."
- Alison Levine, ASAE Game Changer speaker, team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition, and author of "On the Edge"

When it comes to surveying your members, Scott Douglas with the National Strength and Conditioning Association shared an easy hint: Less is more.

A big mistake most associations make is focusing too much on the data. The priority, he said, is the member, who associations have to start thinking of more as individuals and not pie charts. Members are not numbers, and statistics won't solve your member recruitment and retention issues.

After all, most associations consider an 8 percent response rate for surveys good, but that leave a large silent majority who are providing you with no feedback at all. Instead, if you respect members' time and keep surveying simple, you'll get far more engagement.

To do that, Douglas shared three challenges for associations:

1. Go short. Use single-question check-ins versus multi-question comprehensive surveys.

2. Target the nuetrals. Learn how you can get them from middle of the road to great.

3. Share verbatim feedback. Direct quotes about your members' experiences carry an emotional punch.