This week’s headlines from the pioneers of social entrepreneurship, impact investing and mission-driven business around the world

THE EDITOR’S POST

In a hotel in Taiwan, ethical technologist and social entrepreneur Nikoline Arns is outlining her vision of responsible AI, via the medium of coffee. 

“If I want a cup of coffee, I don’t need this whole hotel to make it. I just need that coffee machine,” she explains to me and James Gauci, founder of social enterprise AI consultancy Cadent. The human and environmental resources required to run the hotel aren’t necessary to deliver her caffeine boost, says Nikoline, just the coffee machine itself.

Her point is that the all-singing, all-dancing AI large language models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and xAI’s Grok, are vastly overpowered for what most people use them for. Crucially, this overpowered nature is directly tied to many of the social and environmental harms caused by the technology. 

On the other hand, small-scale AI tools, designed to perform a specific job very well (like the coffee machine), can run off a laptop or phone and store data locally, rather than sending it off to be hoarded by a Silicon Valley giant. 

This meeting took place last October, during the Social Enterprise World Forum 2025. James and I were there to make a film, which we published this week, exploring whether it is possible for social enterprises to use AI without compromising their values. 

We know this is a challenge many social enterprises are currently working through and we wanted to take advantage of leaders at the cutting edge of responsible technology and impact-driven business coming together at the Social Enterprise World Forum to help find a way through this ethical maze.

At the same table as us was Tracey Jewel, founder of the Inclusive Mamas Club, an Australian social enterprise supporting mothers and unpaid carers of neurodivergent children.

Overhearing our discussion about our film project, Tracey told us she was in precisely the position we imagined our audience to be in – unsure how to advance with AI – and that the film sounded like exactly what she needed. 

Throughout the Social Enterprise World Forum, and since, I’ve had a number of similar conversations with social entrepreneurs saying the questions we asked in the film are the exact ones they are currently debating. 

What was planned to be a 10-minute video has grown to a 25-minute film. The interviews we recorded in Taiwan were so rich with complex ideas we didn’t want to edit them to the point where they became empty soundbites. We’re also planning to publish some of the interviews in full as podcasts soon – watch this space.   

As well our interviewees having such a great depth of knowledge on the topic, part of why the interviews were so interesting was them being led by James. His expertise in social entrepreneurship and responsible AI allowed us to uncover fascinating insights in both fields, plus presenting the film gave him a chance to dust off his skills from his days as an actor!

So, Tracey, and anyone else who is struggling to work out if, or how, you can use AI to maximise your organisation’s impact, here are the insights and opinions of experts in both AI and business for good. I hope it helps and gives you the information you need to move forward with confidence.

As James says in the film: “It's people who are making the decisions, now, that will guide the development of this new technology into the future. Those that act now, with bravery, to learn, to collaborate across disciplines, and to start building, they’re the ones that will design and develop the AI systems that deliver true value for society and the environment.”

One extra week to enter the NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards

You can now enter the NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards until midnight on Sunday 22 February. 

The awards are open to social enterprises, entrepreneurial charities, mission-driven businesses and impact investors. Know someone who deserves to be a winner? Make sure you've submitted a nomination on their behalf, or enter yourself – don’t miss out!

DAVID LYONS
Multimedia reporter