More democracy through AI?
Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game for democracy. But can it also help to strengthen democracy? Most AI systems today are developed by large companies, far removed from the everyday lives of the people who will later have to live with their consequences.
The Swiss National AI Dialogue is taking a different approach: it brings Swiss citizens into dialogue with the people who develop AI and make political decisions. In doing so, their personal experiences, expectations and ideas feed directly into the debate on the future and the shaping of AI.
Under the motto ‘Room for Change’, Faktor D will be asking at the democracy festival Mitmacht x reCampaign from 23 to 26 September where social change is possible today and what is needed to achieve it. As a warm-up, the event on 2 September will focus on a question that is becoming increasingly important: How can we use AI to promote greater democratic participation?
Faktor D will be speaking to Andrew Konya, President of Deliberations at Change.org, on this topic. He has already used AI in participatory processes and international negotiations and will discuss the opportunities the technology offers for political participation and democratic innovation.
Afterwards, Oscar Duys, Senior Software Engineer at Change.org, will take a look behind the scenes of the Swiss National AI Dialogue and demonstrate how AI can bring people together in conversation across language, cantonal and social boundaries.
Together, the event’s participants will discuss where AI can strengthen democratic processes, where its limitations lie, and how we can actively shape its development. The event is aimed at anyone who wants to explore the intersection of digital participation and AI for democracy, as well as those who are sceptical about the whole concept.
The event will be held in English. German subtitles can be enabled via Zoom.