Is A.I. an undertow or a life preserver?

For nonprofits and organizations still on Facebook and Instagram, keeping up with changes, trends, and competition is exhausting.

In 2025, Meta rolled out a staggering 83 changes inside Meta Advertising. So if it feels like every time you logged in to create an ad there is a new feature, prompt, or setting—you’re not alone. And, frustratingly, that works in both directions. That feature you planned to use? Gone. That test you wanted to run? Can’t. 🤯

Is A.I. responsible for all our woes? No. But as we all try to stay afloat in 2026, A.I. might be feeling more like an undertow or riptide than a life preserver coming to save the day.

What to do about it?

Well, some useful reminders came recently from the unlikeliest of sources: Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram.

​In this carousel post shared December 31, 2025 there are some tidbits we’re carrying into 2026. There’s plenty he shared that Holly and I disagree with or frankly don’t care much about, but a few things did land with us:

1. The bar is shifting from “can you create” to “can you make something only you could create”.

2. In a world where A.I. can produce flawless imagery, the professional look is the tell.

3. When anything can be perfected, imperfection is a signal.

4. Creators who can maintain trust and signal authenticity will stand out.

   
   

These might scare the bejeezus out of someone who built their following by mimicking dance moves, rage baiting in political forums, posting fit checks or CapCutting brain rot.

But charities, that’s not you.

You were BUILT FOR THIS. Your organization exists because only it can create that specific change in the world. Your content probably never looked flawless, because you didn’t have the budget. And the most effective charities have always been the ones that build trust, communicate clearly, and value every relationship.

Charities, nonprofits, and grassroots movements have what the world needs more of right now. Trust, authenticity, humanity, and a conscience. Four qualities that you’re not going to find in ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini any time soon.

Keep your head above water friends.