Russian Volunteers Embrace AI to Power Social Impact

AI is reshaping volunteerism in Russia, where activists and local officials are integrating digital tools into social projects to drive faster, smarter results.

At the 'Volunteers of the Moscow Region' forum, the spotlight was on artificial intelligence and its potential to strengthen grassroots initiatives. Volunteers, experts, and government representatives gathered to explore how digital tools can enhance the effectiveness of social programs.

Natalya Chernykh, a business coach and lecturer with the Znanie Society, led a session on practical AI applications. She highlighted how technology is already helping volunteers optimize their workflow—from using smart chatbots to process requests, to deploying data analysis in searches for missing persons. According to Chernykh, AI is not a substitute for human involvement, but a tool to enable quicker, more accurate responses to public needs.

Regional Minister of Information and Social Communications, Ekaterina Shvelidze, emphasized that Moscow Region is proactively supporting volunteer digitization. In addition to tech support, volunteers receive grants, insurance coverage, and advisory services.

Experts predict that AI tools will soon become the norm in the nonprofit world, and that Moscow Region could lead the country as a pilot territory for AI-enabled volunteer practices.