Democratic Futures and Artificial Intelligence

Sarah A Fisher (Cardiff University), Sylvie Delacroix (King's College London), Robert Mark Simpson (University College London), Kyle van Oosterum (King's College London)

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how citizens access information, how institutions make decisions, and how democratic societies govern themselves. These technologies could open new avenues for participation, deliberation, and public reasoning, while also amplifying risks such as misinformation, manipulation, and the erosion of human agency. These developments raise pressing questions. Can AI enhance democratic agency rather than undermine it? What safeguards are needed to preserve trust, accountability, and transparency? And how should democratic societies shape the development and use of these systems rather than simply react to them? Bringing together four speakers, this event explores both the opportunities and dangers AI presents for democratic life, from tools that support informed civic engagement to systems that may reshape authority, decision-making, and the relationship between citizens and the state.