Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI

Two trends are unfolding in parallel around the world. Public anxiety about artificial intelligence is growing while communities’ satisfaction in how they participate in civic activities and contribute to government policy and programs is declining. Pathways to resolve this tension are emerging as governments find ways to use these technologies to help communities participate more meaningfully. Examples from Bogotá, Hamburg, Brazil, Mexico and elsewhere show how AI can improve the quality and experience of public engagement while reducing its time and cost. If done poorly, or without safeguards, it can also introduce new risks. However, these can be managed with appropriate process design, regulation and delivery by skilled practitioners.

A Boston Globe editorial argues that Massachusetts should use AI to identify outdated laws, unnecessary reporting requirements, and inefficient regulations, drawing on reforms and pilot programs in other states. Featuring insights from Beth Simone Noveck and Stanford RegLab, it explains how AI-assisted review, paired with human judgment, could reduce administrative burdens and improve government efficiency.

As prediction increasingly shapes decisions about jobs, healthcare, education, and public services, the next frontier is how it organizes society. Drawing on the history of the railroads, this essay argues that policymakers already have a blueprint for governing essential technologies: treat AI as infrastructure, apply public oversight, and ensure that systems central to modern life serve the public interest rather than private power.