Danielle Allen
Professor of Public Policy, James Bryant Conant University Professor
Democracy and AI
Understanding the promises and perils that AI holds for the future of our democracy
Related Programs
Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation, Allen Lab: Technology & Democracy, Nonviolent Action Lab, Reimagining Democracy Program
The proliferation of artificial intelligence has the potential to upend our democracy — for better or worse.
AI tools could allow for new forms of participation while at the same time facilitating the spread of misinformation. As regulators and policymakers struggle to understand the implications of this new technology, Ash Center experts are answering questions about how best to govern AI and not just reactively respond to the many issues that continue to arise.
Can AI be a force for good in our democracy? How do we prevent it from becoming a tool for those who wish to undermine our institutions and trust?
Explore our latest events, research, and writing below.
Meet the Experts
Archon Fung
Director, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation;
Co-Director of the Program on Democracy and the Informed Public;
Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government
Bruce Schneier
Non-resident Senior Fellow
James Waldo
Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, HKS;
Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, SEAS
Sarah Hubbard
Associate Director for Technology & Democracy
Truth from the machine: artificial intelligence and the materialization of identity
When AI is seen as a source of truth and scientific knowledge, it may lend public legitimacy to harmful ideas about identity.