Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI

In this post, Eileen Twiggs draws on lessons from the InnovateUS workshop "Effective Use of Social Media: Storytelling, Trust, and Institutional Brand" to explore how public servants can move beyond risk-averse messaging to tell more human, compelling stories. From finding the “true thing” in everyday work to using AI as a thoughtful teammate, these practical strategies show how to communicate more effectively in today’s fast-moving information environment and rebuild trust one story at a time.

This week on Reboot Democracy, Robert Asaro-Angelo explores how AI could help human services agencies reduce administrative burdens and improve benefits delivery. Dane Gambrell shares lessons from 50 global experts shaping a course on democratic engagement in the AI era. Neil Kleiman argues for “civic AI compacts” between cities and universities, while Sara Bazoobandi examines how Iran’s AI infrastructure, built for control, created strategic fragility. Beyond Reboot, Lawfare warns that U.S. military AI policy is increasingly governed through contracts rather than public law. Vietnam issued a national AI ethics framework, and the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission aims to accelerate scientific discovery with a new supercomputer expected to be operational by 2026. Officials tied to the Department of Government Efficiency used ChatGPT to help terminate over $100 million in humanities grants, and the National Guard is deploying AI tools for disaster response and operational planning.

Dr. Sara Bazoobandi examines how Iran’s doctrine of “knowledge jihad” shaped the development of its digital and AI infrastructure, transforming technology into an instrument of state control. The piece traces how this system, built for surveillance and centralized authority, has also created strategic fragility, offering a cautionary lesson for democracies designing the foundations of AI governance.