Undergraduate Guneet Kaur presented her research titled “Exploring the Impact of AI in Policy Making: Reinforcing Democratic Principles or Fostering Authoritarian Practices?” at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago.
Abstract:
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into policymaking promises to enhance democratic values but also raises concerns. AI is integrated in our lives more than ever and its impact in reinforcing democratic engagement or enabling authoritarian practices needs to be measured for policy frameworks across political landscapes. Previous research on this question offers mixed findings by analytically evaluating the intersection of AI and political structures. Margetts (2022) highlights AI’s promise for good governance and describes its use as a convenient and structured approach. But Ünver (2018) and Yayboke & Brannen (2020) expose the risks of AI in policy-making processes facilitated by surveillance, manipulation, and authoritarian ideals. This research will adopt a mixed approach combining interview evidence (from at least six experts) with at least two in-depth case studies. It will facilitate our understanding of the current trends and applications in AI with policymaking which will help us unfold future prospects. Towards the end, we will be able to determine if we should be optimistic about the democratic potential of AI or pessimistic about certain current applications and why. This research will be able to provide valuable insights into ongoing debates about AI’s dual role in policymaking. The results from this study can offer best practices and cautionary lessons to people by offering evidence-based awareness of the uses of AI.