Generative AI in 2025: How It’s Redefining Work Beyond Automation

Disclaimer: As you might guess if you’ve read any of my previous articles (and if you haven’t, shame on you!), I did not write this article. My (still relatively new) colleague ChatGPT did. However, we had iterative conversations back and forth (seriously) about whether I should write this article myself or depend on ChatGPT. ChatGPT’s suggestion to me (again, being totally serious here) was that we should collaborate on the article. If I provided my overall thoughts and helped refine as we went, ChatGPT shared that “together” we could show how collaborating might be a great way forward in 2025. In one particularly hilarious (to me anyway) interaction, however, ChatGPT admitted that it would not be able to replicate my humor, so suggested I add a bit of that in myself.

As we head into 2025, one question looms large for professionals across industries: Are we effectively integrating generative AI into our work? Generative AI, once seen as a futuristic novelty, has rapidly matured into a transformative force shaping the way we approach daily tasks and long-term projects alike. For international development experts, like me, the implications are profound. Generative AI offers not just automation, but also a powerful tool for creativity, collaboration, and innovation in solving complex global challenges.

The AI Boom: A Game-Changer for Work

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and Jasper (or if you work for USAID, like me, just ChatGPT and Gemini AI for now) have moved from the periphery to the core of workplace functionality. Recent data shows that 75% of knowledge workers now use AI at work, with 30% relying on it daily. Industries ranging from marketing to healthcare are leveraging AI to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and unlock new opportunities.

For international development professionals, the adoption curve is both an opportunity and a challenge. The global, multifaceted nature of our work makes AI’s potential even more exciting. But harnessing this potential requires a shift from seeing AI as a mere productivity tool to recognizing it as a strategic partner in driving impact. Still reading?

A Post That Sparked a Conversation

As part of my exploration into how generative AI is transforming work, I turned to my LinkedIn network for insights. I recently posted a poll, where I posed the question: "Do you use generative AI (ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) for work?" The results were both illuminating and thought-provoking:

• 45% of respondents said, "Yes, absolutely bought in."
• 32% use AI minimally.
• 10% expressed curiosity but hadn’t yet started using it.
• 13% rejected the idea entirely, saying "No way."

These results reflect the varied levels of adoption and comfort with generative AI across industries. While a significant portion of professionals are embracing AI as an integral tool, others remain cautious or skeptical. The poll sparked meaningful discussions about how generative AI can both empower and challenge us in the workplace. For me, it reaffirmed that while AI is a powerful enabler, its integration requires thoughtful strategies and a willingness to adapt. And, of course, depending on where you work, you’ll have to follow specific rules, use certain platforms. If you're a U.S. State Department employee (or have access to their systems like those of us who work for USAID), you might even get your very own AI tools.

A StateChat Aside

Yep, our colleagues over at the State Department developed an AI-powered chatbot called StateChat, which launched in August 2024. For now, from what I can tell it’s mostly automation, designed to assist the Department's workforce by supporting routine tasks, thereby enhancing productivity and allowing employees to focus on more strategic aspects of their roles. StateChat operates within the Department's secure environment, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected. It offers functionalities such as drafting emails, summarizing documents, and providing translation services, all tailored to the specific needs of diplomatic work. By integrating StateChat, the Department aims to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency across its global operations.?

10 Ways International Development Experts Can Use Generative AI

1. Grant Writing and Proposal Development AI can assist in drafting grant proposals, creating initial templates, and refining complex narratives. By analyzing successful past proposals, AI tools can help identify trends and highlight key components to increase funding success rates.
2. Data Analysis and Visualization Generative AI can process large datasets and generate insightful visualizations, making it easier to identify patterns and trends. For instance, tools can summarize survey results or demographic data to inform policy recommendations.
3. Stakeholder Engagement AI can draft tailored communications for diverse stakeholder groups, from government partners to community leaders. Tools like ChatGPT can generate culturally sensitive and multilingual content, bridging communication gaps.
4. Scenario Planning and Risk Assessment Generative AI models can simulate potential outcomes of development interventions, offering insights into risks and benefits. This capability supports informed decision-making in resource-constrained environments.
5. Knowledge Management AI tools can organize and summarize extensive documentation, enabling teams to quickly access relevant information. For example, AI can synthesize years of project reports into actionable insights for strategic planning.
6. Training and Capacity Building AI-powered platforms can create personalized learning modules for capacity building among staff and partners. Interactive scenarios and simulations can enhance training effectiveness while adapting to individual learning paces.
7. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Generative AI can automate parts of the M&E process, such as generating draft reports, summarizing qualitative data, and identifying deviations from planned outcomes. This saves time and ensures accuracy.
8. Policy Drafting and Recommendations AI can assist in drafting policy documents by analyzing existing frameworks, identifying gaps, and suggesting evidence-based recommendations tailored to specific contexts.
9. Creative Problem-Solving During ideation sessions, generative AI can produce a variety of innovative solutions to persistent development challenges. By brainstorming ideas based on diverse datasets, AI helps teams think outside the box.
10. Language Translation and Localization Generative AI can provide quick, accurate translations for documents, emails, and reports, ensuring that communication is clear and culturally appropriate. This functionality is invaluable in multilingual and cross-cultural settings.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite its potential, integrating generative AI into international development work is not without hurdles. Issues such as data privacy, ethical considerations, and the digital divide need to be addressed. Development experts must prioritize:

• Ethical AI Use: Ensuring that AI applications align with principles of transparency, accountability, and equity.
• Capacity Building: Training staff to use AI effectively while maintaining critical human oversight.
• Context Sensitivity: Adapting AI outputs to local contexts to ensure relevance and cultural appropriateness.

Embracing AI: The Way Forward

Generative AI is redefining work in 2025, offering unprecedented opportunities for efficiency, creativity, and innovation. For international development professionals, the challenge is to embrace these tools as partners in achieving sustainable, impactful results. By integrating AI thoughtfully and strategically, we can move beyond automation to unlock new ways of addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

The future is here. Let’s use it to build a better, more equitable world.