The “AI, Big Data, and Democracy Task Force” is a collaborative initiative comprising projects such as AI4Gov, ITHACA, KT4D, and ORBIS. Operating within an interdisciplinary framework, the Task Force draws on diverse theoretical perspectives to navigate the complex interplay of AI, big data, and democracy. Informed by democratic theory, it emphasizes principles of participation, representation, and deliberation to understand the impact of emerging technologies on governance. Ethical considerations guide its work, focusing on fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy.

The recent deep-dive workshop organized by the Task Force delved into these issues. Split into two parts, the workshop featured keynote speeches by AI Democracy & Ethics experts followed by panel discussions. Additionally, it showcased live demonstrations of cutting-edge AI tools tailored for deliberative settings. Attendees had the opportunity for hands-on experience with these tools, providing valuable feedback through platforms like Slido, Mentimeter, and Miro.

One notable segment of the workshop focused on “Aiming for participatory democracy and the inclusion of vulnerable groups: challenges, aspirations, and lessons,” presented by Michael Bedek and Maria Zangl from the University of Graz as part of the ITHACA project.