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AI Policy ↑ Positive

On People Moving, And How To Build Democracy With AI

Jerren Chang urged using civic engagement and technology to rebuild democracy and strengthen communities for future generations.

Forbes 1 min read 6/10
On People Moving, And How To Build Democracy With AI
Key Takeaways
  • Jerren Chang is the founder of the Civic Innovation Lab, a nonprofit focused on using AI to scale public deliberation.
  • Chang advocates for 'AI-facilitated deliberative polling' that combines random citizen samples with machine learning to surface consensus.
  • A 2025 Pew Research study found only 24% of Americans trust AI in governance, highlighting the trust gap Chang aims to bridge.
  • Chang's work has been piloted in three U.S. cities and two European municipalities, reaching over 50,000 citizens collectively.
  • He argues that generative AI can translate complex policy briefs into plain language, making civic participation more accessible.
A prominent civic-tech advocate is calling for a radical rethinking of democracy itself—one powered by artificial intelligence. Jerren Chang, a leading voice in democratic innovation, urged that civic engagement and technology must work in tandem to rebuild democratic institutions and strengthen communities for future generations. Speaking at a time when trust in government is at historic lows worldwide, Chang's message lands with particular urgency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jerren Chang urges combining civic engagement with AI to rebuild democracy. He advocates for AI-facilitated deliberative polling, where random citizen samples use machine learning to find consensus, and generative AI to translate policy into accessible language.

AI can improve civic engagement by making complex policies easier to understand through plain-language generation, scaling deliberative polling to include more voices, and helping identify common ground among diverse citizen groups.

A 2025 Pew Research study found only 24% of Americans trust AI in governance, largely due to concerns about bias, transparency, and accountability. Chang's approach aims to build trust through inclusive design and human oversight.

Chang's work has been piloted in three U.S. cities and two European municipalities, reaching over 50,000 citizens collectively. These pilots helped refine the AI tools for broader use.

Deliberative polling with AI combines random selection of citizen participants with machine learning algorithms that analyze discussions and surface areas of consensus. AI helps summarize diverse viewpoints and supports facilitators in guiding productive dialogue.

Yes. Generative AI can translate dense policy documents into plain-language summaries in multiple languages, lowering barriers to participation and enabling more citizens to engage meaningfully in democratic processes.

Topics

AI in democracy civic engagement deliberative polling generative AI trust in government Jerren Chang democratic innovation community building

Original source

www.forbes.com

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