Navigating the Crossroads between technology and democracy: Insights from Studies on Deliberative Democracy, Technology, and Civic Engagement

Abstract

This panel synthesizes insights from three groundbreaking studies at the confluence of deliberative democracy and technology, offering a multifaceted exploration of the evolving landscape of public deliberation. Paper #1 delves into the outcomes of the second Meta Community Forum, a collaborative initiative involving Meta, the Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab, and the Behavioral Insights Team. Focused on guiding the engagement of generative AI with users, particularly in the realm of AI chatbots, the forum engaged 1545 participants from four countries. Through a Deliberative Polling model, the discussion explored questions of human-like attributes in AI chatbots, user preferences, and limits on emulating human traits. The paper contributes valuable insights into the ethical considerations and user expectations in shaping the future of human-AI interactions. Paper #2 challenges foundational theories of democratic innovations, specifically in the realm of mini-publics, by advocating for a 'capacious view.' The study explores technologically enabled mass deliberation using the Stanford Online Deliberation Platform, emphasizing 'compact deliberation' with shorter timeframes and AI moderation. Findings suggest that, even under imperfect conditions, participants engaged in high-quality deliberation, showcasing the potential for less resource-intensive and more accessible public deliberations. The implications extend to scaling up participation and reducing evidence-gathering time, providing clearer pathways to democratic inclusion and impact. Paper #3 sheds light on deliberative mini-publics as schools of democracy in countries where representative democracy is weak or underdeveloped. Focusing on citizens' assemblies in Rustavi and Ozurgeti in Georgia, the study draws on interviews with assembly organizers, participants, and local authorities. The research explores the impact of these assemblies on civic engagement, local governance, and trust-building in a context where democracy is yet to fully take root. The findings underscore the positive impact of these assemblies in socializing participants and fostering longer-term civic initiatives, contributing significantly to the literature on deliberative democracy in fragile democracies. Together, these papers offer a comprehensive and diverse perspective on the multifaceted intersections of deliberation, technology, and democracy, presenting valuable implications for research, policy, and practice in the field.

Title	Details
Triage Against the Machine: Can AI reason deliberatively	View Paper Details
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Future of Democracy: Can AI-Powered Participatory Processes "Renew the Contract"?	View Paper Details
Building Trust through Deliberation in Fragile Democracies: A Case Study of Citizens' Assemblies in Georgia	View Paper Details