Handmade Even More Valuable
AI Is Changing How We Work, Create, and Connect
Artificial intelligence. AI. Or for some folks, SI. 😉 Whatever you call it, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard someone talking about it recently.
A few years ago, asking a computer to write something for you, create an image from a sentence, analyze a huge amount of information, or translate a message into another language sounded like something from a futuristic movie. Now? It can happen in a matter of seconds.
And that’s one of the fascinating things about AI: it isn’t just something happening “somewhere out there.” It’s becoming part of how people work, create, communicate, learn, and solve problems every day.
So… What Exactly Are People Using?
There are probably more AI tools than there are people who know exactly what all of them do! Some of the names you may have heard include:
ChatGPT – used for writing, brainstorming, research, analyzing information, coding, creating images, and much more.
Google Gemini – Google’s AI tool that can help with writing, research, analysis, images, and working with information across Google’s ecosystem. Google continues to add new capabilities, including tools that can create and edit images and work with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Microsoft Copilot – AI built into Microsoft’s ecosystem to help people work with information, documents, meetings, and other productivity tasks.
Claude – another popular AI assistant used for writing, analysis, coding, research, and other work.
Canva AI – helping people create designs, write content, brainstorm ideas, and even translate designs into more than 100 languages.
DeepL – an AI-powered translation platform that can translate text, documents, and other content into many languages (help create cards in many languages?).
And that’s just scratching the surface. The funny thing is that many people aren’t necessarily thinking, “I’m going to use artificial intelligence today.” They’re just thinking: “I need to get this done.” And AI has become one more tool that can help. What has changed dramatically is how accessible it has become.
In 2024, Pew Research Center found that 16% of U.S. workers said at least some of their work was done with AI. By September 2025, that number had increased to 21%.
Looking at organizations rather than individual workers, McKinsey reported that 88% of surveyed organizations were using AI in at least one business function in 2025, up from 78% in 2024. Globally, Microsoft reported that roughly one in six people worldwide used generative AI tools during the second half of 2025. So, yes. This thing is growing.
What are they using it FOR?
According to Pew Research Center, among workers who had used AI chatbots at work, common uses included researching information, editing written content, drafting documents, summarizing information, brainstorming ideas, analyzing data, writing code, and creating or editing images and videos. Think about what that means in practical terms. For example, someone who used to spend an hour staring at a blank document trying to figure out how to start a report might now ask AI to create a first draft. A small business owner might use it to help write social media posts. A teacher might use it to brainstorm classroom activities. And perhaps most importantly, people can use it to get started. Sometimes the hardest part of doing something isn't doing it. It’s figuring out where to begin. AI can help with that.
And Then There’s Cardz For Kidz. This is where things are especially interesting for us. At Cardz For Kidz, the most important thing has not changed:
People make the difference. Our artists create handmade cards. Our volunteers process and package them. Our partners help us identify people who could use some encouragement. And the people who receive those cards experience the personal connection behind them. A computer can't replace that. And it shouldn't. But technology can help people do that work. One example is language.
As Cardz For Kidz has grown, so has the need for cards in different languages. Our current card-making guidance includes requests for artwork in languages such as French, Portuguese, Romanian, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, and Braille. But the human connection is still what makes the card special.
We’re Still Figuring This Out Too
One of the interesting things about AI is that nobody has completely figured it out. It's moving so quickly that businesses, schools, nonprofits, artists, and individuals are all trying to understand the best ways to use it.
Google recently described its own use of AI in creating Google I/O 2026 to help teams move faster, prototype ideas, and “offload the mundane tasks,” giving people more time for work that requires uniquely human creativity. At Cardz For Kidz, we're especially interested in the ways technology can help us reach more people, communicate across languages, support our artists, and work more efficiently, while still keeping the human connection at the center of what we do.
Well to be honest, all of that above was written by AI. Artificial Intelligence writing about AI!! To be 100% open and honest, I removed a couple of sections to shorten it a bit, so we didn’t lose everyone. Whether it’s how we refer to AI or how it’s being used, Artificial Intelligence is growing. To be even more truthful, we’re working to implement AI on this end to help us efficiently proof our data so we can keep our site updated - https://www.cardzforkidz.org/card-making-groups. Our volunteers may enter the same group differently (e.g., JP Morgan, J.P. Morgan, JP Morgan Chase, Chase Bank) and we’ll use AI to proof the groups and align the data.
I personally value AI and have been working to improve my ability to use it with LinkedIn Learning (FYI - LinkedIn started making cards in 2013).
In summary, there’s a big increase in the use of AI to help ease with some of the automated processes and to help improve the data analysis. There are all types of documentaries and stories about the growing usage of AI and its impact. Overall, thinking about it, as AI grows, your handmade artwork will become even MORE valuable. The patients will realize that you took the time to independently create handmade artwork rather than a computer mass producing them. Please understand as IT progresses and becomes more essential, your HANDMADE ARTWORK will be EVEN MORE VALUABLE and appreciated.
Friendly Reminder --- With that in mind we’ll NEVER accept store-bought cards.
To see more pictures and stories, please check out our Facebook page; follow us on Twitter plus Instagram; and visit our LinkedIn page! Also, check out some of our videos on YouTube and reviews on Great Nonprofits!
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