How Everyone and Anyone Can Use AI for Good

Experts explain how individuals can leverage AI to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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This article explores how individuals can use AI tools to create positive change, even if they don't have the resources of large tech companies. Experts like Kleiner Perkins' Ryan Panchadsaram and Fight Health Insurance's Holden Karau emphasize that while AI has been misused, people can harness it to address issues they care about, from healthcare access to the climate crisis. The key is finding a cause you're passionate about and using AI creatively to make a difference, even in small ways. The article encourages readers to get involved and be part of the ongoing conversation around ethical AI development.

Why it matters

As AI becomes more ubiquitous, there are growing concerns about how it can be misused to violate human rights and cause harm. However, this article argues that by empowering individuals to use AI for good, we can offset the negative impacts and create a more equitable future. By demonstrating the potential for AI to improve lives, we can also better identify and combat unethical applications of the technology.

The details

The article highlights several examples of individuals and small organizations leveraging AI for positive impact, such as Holden Karau's Fight Health Insurance project, which uses AI to help people appeal denied insurance claims. Experts emphasize that people don't need to solve global problems to make a difference - focusing on issues in your own community can create meaningful change. The key is being an active participant in the conversation around AI development and not letting apathy or disillusionment prevent you from trying to do good.

  • This article was published on February 12, 2026.

The players

Ryan Panchadsaram

A partner at the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, Panchadsaram discussed the ongoing battle between using AI for good versus bad with the author.

Holden Karau

The co-founder of Fight Health Insurance, a project that uses AI to help people appeal denied insurance claims.

Matt Trocchio

The author's boss at Stack Overflow, who posed the question that inspired this piece about using AI for good.

Dr. Mi Kyung Kim

The author's sociology professor, who discussed the importance of fighting for progress rather than assuming it happens naturally.

Kenny Lee

The founder of Aigen, a company using AI to build a future with no harmful chemicals in food.

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What they’re saying

“We have to find the balance of powering ahead responsibly. That's always been the test with technology.”

— Ryan Panchadsaram, Partner, Kleiner Perkins (stackoverflow.blog)

“If you don't try these [AI] tools, you are missing out on seeing how they could improve the way you work, the way you plan, the way you do things. But also, you miss out on being able to critique them, to engage with them, to help shape them.”

— Ryan Panchadsaram, Partner, Kleiner Perkins (stackoverflow.blog)

“It's nice to be able to look at the places where you can make [AI] actually do something you care about or make the world a better place—rather than just, 'Cool, we can do the same thing we did before but 1% faster,'”

— Holden Karau, Co-founder, Fight Health Insurance (stackoverflow.blog)

“The resistance to the bad things happening doesn't need perfection. It needs a lot of people doing a lot of small things.”

— Holden Karau, Co-founder, Fight Health Insurance (stackoverflow.blog)

“Look at the people on your block or the people in your building and say, 'Okay, are they safe? What can I do to help them?'”

— Holden Karau, Co-founder, Fight Health Insurance (stackoverflow.blog)

What’s next

The article does not mention any specific future newsworthy moments related to the story.

The takeaway

This article encourages readers to get involved in using AI for good, even in small ways that impact their local communities. By being active participants in the ongoing conversation around ethical AI development, individuals can help offset the negative impacts of the technology and create a more equitable future.