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India’s nonprofit sector lags in AI adoption, says new survey
Mumbai: As Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolutionises industries worldwide, India’s nonprofit sector finds itself at an early stage of AI adoption, with nearly 30 per cent of nonprofits yet to implement the technology, according to the India AI Readiness Report. Released by GivingTuesday Data Commons, the report offers insights into how 251 nonprofits across India are navigating AI’s transformative potential.
The survey identifies two distinct groups—early adopters and late adopters—based on AI usage. Larger, urban nonprofits dominate the early adopter category, leveraging tools like generative AI and expressing a keen interest in expanding AI applications. In contrast, smaller, rural-focused organisations often lack technical resources, limiting their AI adoption primarily to basic tools.
“This research is a critical benchmark in the efforts to ensure that the social sector is not left behind as AI becomes increasingly relevant. The India AI Readiness Report was developed as a supplement to the global study, focusing exclusively on insights from 251 organisations across the country. We hope this report will help anchor your decision making in relationship to AI, whether you’re a nonprofit considering how you compare to others in the AI adoption scale, a technology platform looking to better understand current nonprofit needs, an educator looking to develop resources for nonprofits, or a funder considering how to best support the sector’s AI adoption. By spotlighting India’s progress, we hope to spark further conversation around how to collectively approach AI adoption in the social sector and guide Indian nonprofits, funders, and stakeholders in their decision-making and collaborations,” said GivingTuesday, CEO, Asha Curran.
The report highlights that systemic challenges—knowledge gaps and limited infrastructure—are significant barriers to equitable AI adoption. Addressing these requires collaboration among philanthropy, technology, and the nonprofit sectors.
“This report highlights the nuances in current AI adoption and knowledge, and understanding these differences is integral to achieving equitable and beneficial AI adoption in the social sector. Addressing the systemic challenges of knowledge and infrastructure gaps, which are not unique to this technology, requires cross-sector collaboration among philanthropy, technology, nonprofit, and researchers. Collectively, identification of strategic and tactical use cases to move us from “how do we use” to “what do we need” will support an ecosystem that centres mission needs in the design, development, and governance for equitable outcomes,” added GivingTuesday, chief data officer, Woodrow Rosenbaum.
Key Findings:
. Early Adopters: Representing organisations with robust data-use policies, cloud-based systems, and technical expertise, 60-80 per cent are eager to explore advanced AI applications.
. Late Adopters: Often resource-constrained, only about 10 per cent of these organisations show interest in future AI uses, with 40 per cent unsure of potential applications.
. Regional Insights: Western India leads in AI demand but has the lowest percentage of nonprofits employing technical staff.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
