Conference: “AI and Democratic Governance: Challenges, Oversight, and Potential”

Text "AI" over a matrix image
Event time: 
Friday, April 11, 2025 - 9:00am through 4:00pm
Location: 
Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Room A002
77 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Google Maps
LINK TO REGISTER
Event description: 

ISPS DEMOCRATIC INNOVATIONS MINI-CONFERENCE

This one-day conference brings together leading scholars to present innovative research on the intersection between artificial intelligence (AI) and democratic governance. The discussions will revolve around three interconnected themes:

  • Governing by AI: Examining the risks AI poses to democratic processes, such as misinformation, biased decision-making, and job displacement.
  • Governing AI: Evaluating frameworks for democratic oversight of AI, including government regulations and industry self-governance.
  • Governing with AI: Exploring how AI can enhance democracy through improved civic participation and public deliberation.

PLEASE REGISTER AT THIS LINK TO ATTEND

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: April 11, 2025

time activity
8:30 AM Light breakfast available (Room A001)
9:00 AM Welcome Remarks and Introduction
  • Shir Raviv, Columbia University

9:15 AM
to
10:55 AM

 SESSION 1: Governing by AI: Risks to democracy
  • Peter John Loewen, Cornell University
    “The Potential for Political Backlash Against AI”
  • Lexi Palmer, Dartmouth College
    “Large Language Models Can Argue in Convincing and Novel Ways About Politics”
  • Ryan P. Kennedy, The Ohio State University
    “The Paradox of Algorithms and Blame on Public Decision-makers”

Chair: Valentina González-Rostani, Princeton University
10:55 AM Coffee break (Room A001)

11:15 AM
to
1:15 PM

 SESSION 2: Governing AI
  • Seulki Lee-Geiller, Yale University
    “Integrating Civic and Artificial Intelligence in Policymaking: Experimental Insights on Public Policy Evaluations”
  • Solon Barocas, Microsoft Research New York City & Cornell University
    “Responsible AI on the Ground: What Empirical Research Tells Us About Regulating AI”
  • Shir Raviv, Columbia University
    “How Media Coverage and Elite Communication Shape Public Opinion on AI Regulation”
  • Daniel Schiff, Purdue University
    “The Influence of Ethics Commitments and Audits on Public Trust in AI”

Chair: Melody Huang, Yale University
1:15 PM Lunch (Room A001)
2:15 PM
to
3:55 PM		 Session 3: Governing (with) AI
  • Yamil R. Velez, Columbia University
    “Hidden Layers of Representation: Revisiting the Second Face of Power using AI-Assisted Surveys of Public Opinion”
  • Kaylyn Jackson Schiff, Purdue University
    “The Second Order Effects of LLMs and Generative AI on Political Communication”
  • José Ramón Enríquez, Stanford University
    “Deliberation.io: Experiments on Generative AI and the Future of Democracy”

Chair: Théophile Pénigaud, Yale University
3:55 PM
to
4:00 PM		 Concluding Remarks and Adjournment

Generously supported by the Program on Democratic Innovations at ISPS