
AI For Good



Adoption At A
Tipping Point
AI Adoption 2025 Report
AI Adoption 2025 Report
AI Adoption 2025 Report
Volume 3


Findings from 3 Sided Cube's 2025 AI adoption survey on how mission-aligned businesses, nonprofits and NGOs are using AI, right now.
Findings from 3 Sided Cube's 2025 AI adoption survey on how mission-aligned businesses, nonprofits and NGOs are using AI, right now.
Findings from 3 Sided Cube's 2025 AI adoption survey on how mission-aligned businesses, nonprofits and NGOs are using AI, right now.
Plus a practical playbook to do it responsibly!
Plus a practical playbook to do it responsibly!
Plus a practical playbook to do it responsibly!
89%
of organisations taking part said they had integrated AI to some extent
89%
of organisations taking part said they had integrated AI to some extent
89%
of organisations taking part said they had integrated AI to some extent
With 89% of purpose‑led organisations now on their AI journey, the question is no longer if - it’s how well we scale, govern and measure impact.
With 89% of purpose‑led organisations now on their AI journey, the question is no longer if - it’s how well we scale, govern and measure impact.
With 89% of purpose‑led organisations now on their AI journey, the question is no longer if - it’s how well we scale, govern and measure impact.
Tl:DR
Tl:DR
Tl:DR
Show me the data. A whistle-stop tour of what we found and what to do next.
Show me the data. A whistle-stop tour of what we found and what to do next.
Adoption accelerated
Non-adopters dropped to 11%; those fully integrated rose to 17%.

Adoption accelerated
Non-adopters dropped to 11%; those fully integrated rose to 17%.

Adoption accelerated
Non-adopters dropped to 11%; those fully integrated rose to 17%.

Real value is showing up
77% report noticeable improvements; 57% say they now see more successes than challenges.

Real value is showing up
77% report noticeable improvements; 57% say they now see more successes than challenges.

Real value is showing up
77% report noticeable improvements; 57% say they now see more successes than challenges.

Impact is trending positive
Positive project outcomes climbed to 38%; negative outcomes are falling.

Impact is trending positive
Positive project outcomes climbed to 38%; negative outcomes are falling.

Impact is trending positive
Positive project outcomes climbed to 38%; negative outcomes are falling.

Guardrails are catching up
56% now have an AI policy, but community engagement remains low.

Guardrails are catching up
56% now have an AI policy, but community engagement remains low.

Guardrails are catching up
56% now have an AI policy, but community engagement remains low.

Momentum continues
90% plan to deepen AI adoption in 12 months; overall confidence remains high (if a touch more realistic).

Momentum continues
90% plan to deepen AI adoption in 12 months; overall confidence remains high (if a touch more realistic).

Momentum continues
90% plan to deepen AI adoption in 12 months; overall confidence remains high (if a touch more realistic).

THE TIPPING POINT IS HERE
THOUGHTS FROM...
THOUGHTS FROM...
THOUGHTS FROM...
Duncan Cook
Duncan Cook



Founder & CEO
Founder & CEO
The tipping point is here. Now make it count.
This is our third annual pulse check on AI use in the purpose-led world. Adoption is now the default.
Most teams are using AI in day-to-day work and more report real improvements. The question is not if, it is how we make it useful, safe, and measurable.
At 3 Sided Cube, we are an AI-first product agency for good. We ship features that work in the wild, and we build responsibility into how we design, test and launch.
The pattern is simple. Start small. Prove it. Scale what works. Measure value in human terms. Keep people in the loop.
Thank you to everyone who shared their wins, worries and roadblocks. Use this report to pick one workflow, run a small test and share what changed. Then do it again.
Method
At A
Glance


WHat
Third annual AI adoption pulse - short survey on adoption, impact and governance.
1/4
WHat
Third annual AI adoption pulse - short survey on adoption, impact and governance.
1/4
WHEN
Fielded from July–August 2025.
2/4
WHEN
Fielded from July–August 2025.
2/4
Who
A diverse mix of decision‑makers and practitioners across charities, NGOs and mission‑aligned for‑profits globally.
3/4
Who
A diverse mix of decision‑makers and practitioners across charities, NGOs and mission‑aligned for‑profits globally.
3/4
How
Online survey; anonymised reporting.
4/4
How
Online survey; anonymised reporting.
4/4
Method
At A
Glance

WHat
Third annual AI adoption pulse - short survey on adoption, impact and governance.
1/4
WHEN
Fielded from July–August 2025.
2/4
Who
A diverse mix of decision‑makers and practitioners across charities, NGOs and mission‑aligned for‑profits globally.
3/4
How
Online survey; anonymised reporting.
4/4
Method At A
Glance



Adoption

Adoption

Adoption
The Tipping Point: where AI adoption stands now
The Tipping Point: where AI adoption stands now
The Tipping Point: where AI adoption stands now
'Non -adopters' in decline
% of respondents who said they weren’t using AI in some way



Depth is growing
17%
Full integration has increased 4.5x compared to 2024






Most teams are in progress
73%
are starting to integrate AI in day-to-day work

What does it
mean though?
The sector has crossed a tipping point. Adoption is the norm; the hard work shifts to quality of use, governance, and measurable value.

What does it
mean though?
The sector has crossed a tipping point. Adoption is the norm; the hard work shifts to quality of use, governance, and measurable value.

What does it
mean though?
The sector has crossed a tipping point. Adoption is the norm; the hard work shifts to quality of use, governance, and measurable value.

Value

Value

Value
Teams report concrete improvements, led by efficiency and productivity
Teams report concrete improvements, led by efficiency and productivity
Teams report concrete improvements, led by efficiency and productivity
Top 5 areas of improvement



What is one thing that has made an impact with AI this year?

Dafne Kiyui
ABillion - helping people eat healthier
0m 36s



Dafne Kiyui
ABillion



AI increasingly impacts project outcomes
38%
reported positive impacts
Up 11% from 2024
The numbers of those who report negative impact is declining year-on-year.
13%
13%
In 2025
24%
24%
In 2024
28%
28%
In 2023

Reality check
The story isn’t “AI fixed everything”. It’s more use, more value, and fewer misfires.

Reality check
The story isn’t “AI fixed everything”. It’s more use, more value, and fewer misfires.

Reality check
The story isn’t “AI fixed everything”. It’s more use, more value, and fewer misfires.
ETHICS &

GOVERNANCE
ETHICS &

GOVERNANCE
ETHICS &

GOVERNANCE
Policies vs reality
Policies vs reality
Policies vs reality
Ethics matter at the decision table
67%
say ethics concerns significantly shaped adoption
Why no policy (yet)?
Common reasons
✏️
It's in development…
It's in development…
⏳
It's too early…
It's too early…
🤷
It's not needed…
It's not needed…
🤹
We have competing priorities…
We have competing priorities…
Why no policy (yet)?
Common reasons
✏️
It's in development…
⏳
It's too early…
🤷
It's not needed…
🤹
We have competing priorities…
If you did one thing with AI in 30 days, what would it be?

Addie Achan
Impacts AI
0m 31s






Addie Achan
Impacts AI
Guardrails are catching up…
Guardrails are catching up…




What good
looks like
Good means having a clear purpose, strong human oversight, minimal and consent-based data use, and thorough vendor checks that consider geopolitical and data rights factors.

What good
looks like
Good means having a clear purpose, strong human oversight, minimal and consent-based data use, and thorough vendor checks that consider geopolitical and data rights factors.

What good
looks like
Good means having a clear purpose, strong human oversight, minimal and consent-based data use, and thorough vendor checks that consider geopolitical and data rights factors.
COMMUNITY

VOICE
COMMUNITY

VOICE
COMMUNITY

VOICE
The engagement gap: Community voice in AI work
The engagement gap: Community voice in AI work
The engagement gap: Community voice in AI work
Despite mission-driven values, community engagement is low
46%
rarely involve affected communities in AI projects
14%
engage with them often or very often
Where is one place you chose not to use AI, and why?

Jim Snape
National Deaf Children's Society
1m 16s



Jim Snape
National Deaf Children's Society



Why community engagement matters…
Why community engagement matters…

Reduces harm
Users catch risks you miss.

Reduces harm
Users catch risks you miss.

Reduces harm
Users catch risks you miss.

Build trust
Transparent, two-way design.

Build trust
Transparent, two-way design.

Build trust
Transparent, two-way design.

Improves adoption
Co-design results in real uptake.

Improves adoption
Co-design results in real uptake.

Improves adoption
Co-design results in real uptake.

Quick wins
Add community check-ins during key stages, budget for fair compensation, and share clear model cards and FAQs to support user understanding.

Quick wins
Add community check-ins during key stages, budget for fair compensation, and share clear model cards and FAQs to support user understanding.

Quick wins
Add community check-ins during key stages, budget for fair compensation, and share clear model cards and FAQs to support user understanding.

POTENTIAL

POTENTIAL

POTENTIAL
Confidence and the next 12 months
Confidence and the next 12 months
Confidence and the next 12 months
Confidence holds high
38%
express confidence in AI's potential to do good






Commitment rises
90%
plan to deepen integration in the next 12 months. 'Very Likely' is the fastest growing sentiment.

One key action
If you only do one thing, measure adoption in human terms. Track minutes saved, errors reduced, or people reached for one workflow. Report it monthly. No metric, no momentum.

One key action
If you only do one thing, measure adoption in human terms. Track minutes saved, errors reduced, or people reached for one workflow. Report it monthly. No metric, no momentum.

One key action
If you only do one thing, measure adoption in human terms. Track minutes saved, errors reduced, or people reached for one workflow. Report it monthly. No metric, no momentum.
READINESS

CHECKLIST
READINESS

CHECKLIST
READINESS

CHECKLIST
Before you dive into your AI project, run through this quick self-check to make sure the essentials are in place.
Before you dive into your AI project, run through this quick self-check to make sure the essentials are in place.
Before you dive into your AI project, run through this quick self-check to make sure the essentials are in place.
01
Define the problem
We’ve defined one problem worth solving and the user it helps.

01
Define the problem
We’ve defined one problem worth solving and the user it helps.

01
Define the problem
We’ve defined one problem worth solving and the user it helps.

02
Define KPIs
We know what “good” looks like (KPIs) before we start.

02
Define KPIs
We know what “good” looks like (KPIs) before we start.

02
Define KPIs
We know what “good” looks like (KPIs) before we start.

03
Ethical framework
We have a lightweight ethics/policy framework in place.

03
Ethical framework
We have a lightweight ethics/policy framework in place.

03
Ethical framework
We have a lightweight ethics/policy framework in place.

04
Community feedback
We’ve planned a community feedback step.

04
Community feedback
We’ve planned a community feedback step.

04
Community feedback
We’ve planned a community feedback step.

05
Define MVP
We can ship a pilot in < 8 weeks.

05
Define MVP
We can ship a pilot in < 8 weeks.

05
Define MVP
We can ship a pilot in < 8 weeks.

06
Escape hatch
We have a rollback plan if it under‑delivers.

06
Escape hatch
We have a rollback plan if it under‑delivers.

06
Escape hatch
We have a rollback plan if it under‑delivers.

BEYOND THE TIPPING POINT
Adoption is now
Adoption is now
the default
the default
With 89% somewhere on the curve and 17% fully integrated, the question isn’t if you use AI - it’s whether it’s making a measurable difference for people.
This year’s data says the promise is real (77% seeing improvements), but two gaps decide whether that promise sticks: guardrails and genuine engagement.
Three things that
Three things that
matter now
matter now
1
1
1
Prove value in human terms
Minutes saved, errors reduced, reach increased - pick metrics a programme lead would defend.
Prove value in human terms
Minutes saved, errors reduced, reach increased - pick metrics a programme lead would defend.
Prove value in human terms
Minutes saved, errors reduced, reach increased - pick metrics a programme lead would defend.
2
2
2
Tighten the guardrails
Policies exist for over half of orgs; make them practical: role-based access, audit trails, red‑teaming, rollback plans.
Tighten the guardrails
Policies exist for over half of orgs; make them practical: role-based access, audit trails, red‑teaming, rollback plans.
Tighten the guardrails
Policies exist for over half of orgs; make them practical: role-based access, audit trails, red‑teaming, rollback plans.
3
3
3
Bring communities in
With only 14% engaging often, co‑design is the fastest lever to reduce harm and increase uptake.
Bring communities in
With only 14% engaging often, co‑design is the fastest lever to reduce harm and increase uptake.
Bring communities in
With only 14% engaging often, co‑design is the fastest lever to reduce harm and increase uptake.
AI Adoption

2025 Report
AI Adoption

2025 Report
AI Adoption

2025 Report
AI's tipping point. What's your next move?
AI's tipping point. What's your next move?
AI's tipping point. What's your next move?
Say Hi About Ai
Got a thought or have questions?
We're all ears…
CREDITS:
Research & analysis
3 Sided Cube's marketing team
Design
3 Sided Cube's creative team
With thanks to
To everyone who shared your wins, worries and roadblocks. Your honesty is the reason this report is useful. We’ll keep listening, keep sharing back and keep turning insight into work that helps people.


