How is the association sector adapting to AI?
AI is increasingly a focus of the research we conduct for associations.
Associations want to understand how their members are using AI, where they need support and how it is changing their profession or industry. At the same time, association leaders are asking us another question: what are other associations doing?
Where is AI being used?
Is it saving staff time or improving member services?
Are associations still experimenting, or starting to scale?
What governance is being put in place?
How are associations preparing to support members as AI changes the way they work?
And what impact do they expect AI to have on professional development, standards and membership?
While there are plenty of national and global studies, there is surprisingly little evidence to answer those questions across the association sector specifically.
So this October, Survey Matters, with support from AuSAE, will launch the State of AI in Associations 2026.
The study will create a new sector benchmark covering where associations are at with their AI adoption, which functions they are using it in, where it is saving time or improving service quality, as well as the implications for the industries and professions they represent.
We hope it will offer a way for associations to share their stories and contribute to wider sector learning and knowledge. The more associations that participate, the more useful that benchmark will be.
Interested in taking part and receiving the report?
Register your interest now and we’ll let you know when the survey opens. Participants will receive the findings before general release.