September Topic: "Rewiring Democracy”
5 p.m. EDT // 4 p.m. CDT // 3 p.m. MDT // 2 p.m. PDT // 1 p.m. AKDT
Presented in partnership with the Leagues of Women Voters of Alaska and Colorado
Our guests are Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders, authors of the recent book, presenting an informative and wide-ranging exploration of how AI will alter every facet of democracy, and how to harness the technology to distribute rather than concentrate power.
Democracy is facing new challenges worldwide, and AI will be a part of that. It can inform, empower, and engage citizens. It can also disinform, disempower, and disengage them. The choice is up to us. Schneier and Sanders blaze the path forward, showing us how we can use it to make an AI-infused democracy stronger and more participatory.
Bruce Schneier is a public-interest technologist, working at the intersection of security, technology, and people. He's been writing about security issues on his blog since 2004, and in his monthly newsletter since 1998. He is a fellow and lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School, a board member of EFF, and the Chief of Security Architecture at Inrupt, Inc.
Nathan E. Sanders is a data scientist focused on making policymaking more participatory. His research spans machine learning, astrophysics, public health, environmental justice, and more. He has served in fellowships at the Massachusetts legislature and the Berkman-Klein Center at Harvard University.
Suggested reading:
- Will AI Strengthen or Undermine Democracy?
- Rewiring Democracy Now
- Switzerland Shows Us an Alternative to Corporate AI
- AI & the Struggle for Open Knowledge in Brazil
About the series:
Disinformation. Conspiracy theories. Extremism. Surveillance. Our democracy is threatened as never before by toxic online content. The social media giants seem unable, or in some cases unwilling, to control the flood of lies and manipulative practices. The staggering — often hidden — reach of Big Tech into our lives endangers civil society, our civil rights, and our privacy. In a "post-truth" world we risk losing the shared understanding that underpins our democracy.
Resuming our series after a year-long hiatus, we explore a different facet of this crisis with guest experts. Join us to learn, discuss, and work on possible solutions.