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Wonk Week Session Recording

The Dual Role of AI in Lawmaker Engagement

Featuring

Eric Storey, Director of Grassroots and Digital Advocacy, American Bar Association

Join Eric Storey from the American Bar Association for an exploration of how AI is revolutionizing lawmaker engagement. Eric will discuss how organizations are using AI to scale their outreach while Congress is using advanced tools to manage the influx of messages. Plus, learn strategies for overcoming common leadership objections to implementing AI in your organization. Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve or just curious about the intersection of AI and advocacy, this session will equip you with the insights needed to navigate this evolving space.

Watch the Session
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Leveraging AI for Grassroots Advocacy – A Conversation with Eric Story and Erin Mills

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way advocacy professionals engage with their audiences and navigate the political landscape. At Wonk Week, Eric Story, Director of Grassroots and Digital Advocacy at the American Bar Association (ABA), and Erin Mills, Quorum’s Chief Marketing Officer and resident AI expert, discussed how AI is being integrated into advocacy workflows and the opportunities it presents for public affairs professionals.

Meet the Experts

Eric Story leads grassroots and digital advocacy at the American Bar Association, an organization representing over 450,000 attorneys. He has been at the forefront of integrating AI into the ABA’s advocacy efforts, helping streamline workflows and enhance personalized outreach to members of Congress. Erin Mills, Quorum’s Chief Marketing Officer, brings a wealth of experience in how technology can optimize government relations and advocacy strategies. Together, they offer a comprehensive view of how AI can be a game changer for grassroots advocacy.

The Journey into AI

Eric began his AI journey during the early days of the pandemic, citing TikTok as an unlikely source of inspiration. He explained how he stumbled upon AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E, which sparked his curiosity. “TikTok gave me my first intro into a lot of this stuff… it was really exciting,” he shared. Early adoption of these tools led to a dramatic shift in how the ABA approached its advocacy efforts.

For the ABA, one of the biggest challenges has been managing its diverse membership base, which spans multiple legal specialties. “We represent tax lawyers, copyright lawyers, and everything in between,” Eric explained. AI has allowed the ABA to personalize its messaging and advocacy efforts across these varied segments, enabling them to go from advocating on just a few issues to tackling up to twelve.

Overcoming Challenges and Gaining Buy-In

One of the first hurdles Eric faced was getting buy-in from colleagues and leadership, particularly in the legal field, which can be slow to adopt new technology. “Lawyers tend to skew a little older,” he acknowledged, noting that it was important to build excitement around AI. By integrating AI tools into everyday workflows, such as Monday meetings, Eric was able to spark curiosity and eventually gain broader adoption. Even older professionals nearing retirement began experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT and Make.com.

However, getting through the red tape was a significant challenge. “The ABA has a lot of red tape,” Eric said, explaining how the organization had to carefully vet AI tools to ensure they aligned with their legal and ethical standards. Specifically, the ABA needed to find AI tools that did not retain data in ways that could compromise confidentiality, a critical concern in the legal profession.

Custom GPTs: A Game-Changer for Advocacy

One of the most exciting developments in the ABA’s AI journey has been the creation of custom GPTs. Eric explained that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are excellent at predicting the next word in a sentence but may not always provide accurate or context-specific responses. By creating custom GPTs, the ABA can ensure that all AI-generated content adheres to their established policies. “We’ve been able to instill checks where it only sticks to the information we want it to, and then checks it again,” Eric said.

These custom GPTs have allowed the ABA to streamline messaging, ensuring that everything from email campaigns to social media posts is consistent with organizational policies. This level of control has been critical in gaining leadership’s trust and ensuring AI’s responsible use within the organization.

AI’s Impact on Capitol Hill

The discussion also delved into how AI is changing the dynamics of advocacy on Capitol Hill. Eric highlighted the “arms race” between advocacy organizations and congressional offices. On one hand, advocacy groups are using AI to send personalized messages to lawmakers. On the other, congressional offices are using AI tools like Fireside 21 to consolidate and manage incoming constituent communications.

While this dynamic is constantly evolving, Eric noted that AI gives advocacy professionals an edge. “Right now, we have the upper leg in the arms race,” he said, referring to how AI-generated message variations have helped ABA’s messages stand out in lawmakers’ inboxes. However, he also pointed out that congressional offices are beginning to adopt similar tools, which may make it harder to break through in the future.

Building Personalized, Scalable Advocacy Campaigns

Eric and Erin also discussed the power of AI to personalize and scale advocacy campaigns. With AI, the ABA can create hyper-personalized messages for its diverse membership. Instead of sending a generic message to all members, AI allows the ABA to craft individualized communications that resonate with specific segments, such as civil rights lawyers or business law specialists.

This level of personalization has been a game changer for the ABA’s grassroots efforts. For instance, AI has allowed the ABA to schedule social media posts, emails, and other communications far in advance, freeing up time for more strategic tasks. “We’ve been able to schedule out weeks in advance for very detailed social media planning,” Eric said. This efficiency has allowed the ABA to focus on more meaningful engagement with members of Congress and key stakeholders.

The Future of AI in Advocacy

Looking ahead, both Eric and Erin see vast potential for AI to continue transforming the advocacy space. Eric described how AI is helping the ABA retool its key contact program, allowing for more specific and strategic engagement with policymakers. The ABA has also started using community platforms like Hivebrite, which enable members to strategize and collaborate on advocacy efforts in real time.

For those early in their AI journey, Eric’s advice is simple: “Get started.” He encouraged advocacy professionals to experiment with AI tools and to find use cases that resonate with them. Erin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of identifying specific problems AI can solve. “Start with a use case,” she said. “What problem are you solving for?”

Conclusion: AI as a Strategic Tool

The session concluded with a discussion on how to overcome resistance to AI adoption. Both Eric and Erin agreed that showing leadership concrete use cases and success stories can help alleviate fears and demonstrate the value of AI. As Eric noted, “You need to show them what AI can do, and then the conversation will shift to how it can be used responsibly.”

For organizations looking to leverage AI, the message is clear: now is the time to explore how these tools can enhance advocacy efforts. Whether it’s streamlining workflows, personalizing communications, or engaging more effectively with lawmakers, AI offers a powerful set of tools for advocacy professionals to supercharge their efforts.

As AI continues to evolve, those who embrace it early will be well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in grassroots advocacy.