Video
The Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation’s Making Democracy Interesting webinar brought together scholars, writers, and creators to explore how storytelling can make democratic life feel more accessible, human, and compelling.
Making Democracy Interesting brought together scholars, writers, and creators to explore how storytelling can make democratic life feel more accessible, human, and compelling. The panel was moderated by James Bryant Conant University Professor Danielle Allen and WIRED’s former editor-in-chief Gideon Lichfield, an Allen Lab Fellow, and featured:
Their discussion examined why traditional political language often fails to connect, especially with younger generations, and how parasocial relationships, narrative experimentation, and participatory media can enliven civic engagement. From real-world experiments in collective problem-solving to creator-led movements that mobilize millions, the discussion offered concrete examples of how democracy is lived and shared experiences and not just an abstract ideal. Watch the recording to hear how storytelling might help democracy find its audience again.
Additional Resource
Ensuring public opinion and policy preferences are reflected in policy outcomes is essential to a functional democracy. A growing ecosystem of deliberative technologies aims to improve the input-to-action loop between people and their governments.
Occasional Paper
In a new working paper, Crocodile Tears: Can the Ethical-Moral Intelligence of AI Models Be Trusted?, Allen Lab authors Sarah Hubbard, David Kidd, and Andrei Stupu introduce an ethical-moral intelligence framework for evaluating AI models across dimensions of moral expertise, sensitivity, coherence, and transparency.
Open Access Resource
Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation Senior Fellow Allison Stanger, in collaboration with Jaron Lanier and Audrey Tang, envision a post-Section 230 landscape that fosters innovation in digital public spaces using models optimized for public interest rather than attention metrics.
