AI for Digital Democracy Webinar: Key Takeaways and Recording

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On February 18, People Powered hosted a webinar on AI for digital democracy. The event brought together experts and practitioners from around the world to explore how AI can support or hinder participatory democracy.

With an audience spanning more than 30 countries, the event featured insightful discussions on the risks, opportunities, and emerging trends in AI-powered participation. We examined how AI is reshaping digital governance, explored the latest tools being used for democratic engagement, and debated the ethical considerations necessary to ensure AI supports rather than undermines democracy.

Joining us as speakers were Matt Stempeck from Civic Tech Field Guide; Reema Patel from Elgon Social Research; Ya-wei Chou from FNF Global Innovation Hub Taipei; and Melissa Zisengwe and Nikhil Kumar (moderator) from People Powered.

Watch the recording below:

Some key things that we learned

1. AI’s Dual Role in Participation: A Tool for Inclusion or Exclusion?

Speakers and attendees highlighted both the promises and dangers of AI in democratic processes. On one hand, AI tools can expand access to participation, enabling real-time translation, summarization of public input, and large-scale deliberation. On the other, AI systems—especially those trained primarily in English—risk reinforcing biases and amplifying misinformation in civic discourse.

Key insights:

  • Opportunities: AI can enhance engagement by automating moderation, processing large datasets, and facilitating multilingual participation.

  • Risks: The lack of transparency in AI models and biases in training data can marginalize underrepresented groups.

“AI models struggle with linguistic diversity, often misrepresenting the voices of non-English-speaking communities.” – Ya-wei Chou, FNF Global Innovation Hub

2. Trends in AI for Digital Participation

People Powered’s 2025 Digital Participation Tool Ratings highlighted how platforms are integrating AI into participatory processes. AI-powered tools are increasingly being used for:

  • Translation to engage speakers from diverse linguistic backgrounds

  • Automated fact-checking to combat misinformation

  • Clustering and summarizing public input and performing sentiment analysis to improve policymaking

  • AI-powered deliberation platforms to enhance online discussions

Examples of innovative AI-powered participation tools include:

  • Thinkscape – Facilitates deliberative democracy through AI-generated discussions.

  • UrbanistAI – Uses AI-driven visualizations to support participatory urban planning.

  • Assembl – Transforms civic discussions into structured narratives for better comprehension.

"Some of the open-source digital participation platforms are building AI features modularly. This allows organizations to swap in models they trust as more options become available." — Matt Stempeck, Civic Tech Field Guide

3. The Ethical Debate: Who Controls AI in Democracy?

One of the most debated topics was who decides how AI is implemented in governance. AI has the potential to centralize power in the hands of those who develop and control the technology. Without robust oversight and public accountability, AI-driven decision-making can reduce transparency rather than enhance it.

Solutions discussed:

  • Creating citizen oversight mechanisms for AI-driven governance

  • Ensuring open-source AI models for greater transparency

  • Implementing ethical AI standards tailored for democratic engagement

“The real issue is power—AI governance is currently dominated by technologists and policymakers, excluding the public from decision-making.” – Reema Patel, Elgon Social Research

“AI-driven participation tools must be transparent and explainable. If people don’t trust how AI processes their input, they won’t engage meaningfully with these tools." — Melissa Zisengwe, People Powered

4. Key Discussion Takeaways

To close the session, moderator Nikhil Kumar posed three critical questions to the panelists:

  1. What should platform developers keep in mind when creating AI features for participation and deliberation?

    • Melissa Zisengwe emphasized the importance of transparency and explainability in AI-driven features so that both citizens and policymakers can trust how AI tools are processing information.

    • Ya-wei Chou highlighted issues on accessibility, language and cultural diversity of AI models, as  AI models often fail to capture the linguistic and cultural nuances of non-English-speaking communities, leading to biases and misinterpretations.

    • Reema Patel stressed the need for adaptable participation platforms that can work across in-person, hybrid, and digital settings, ensuring accessibility for diverse communities.

    • Matt Stempeck pointed out that AI should not just be used for cost-cutting but for expanding citizen engagement.

  2. What are some key regional differences in how AI features and digital tools are used for participation?

    • Melissa Zisengwe shared that while many digital participation tools originate in the Global North, they are widely adopted in the Global South, where they serve different functions depending on local governance structures. She noted that digital participation can differ depending on the country and context. For example, in authoritarian vs. democratic contexts, AI-powered tools may be used differently.

    • Matt Stempeck highlighted resource disparities, noting that wealthier regions are often the ones developing and setting prices for AI, presenting barriers to less wealthy regions in accessing and using these tools.

  3. How will AI and digital tools shape civic engagement in the next five years?

    • Matt Stempeck envisioned AI-powered real-time citizen feedback loops, allowing governments to gauge public sentiment dynamically and engage constituents more often. However, he cautioned that AI must not replace actual human participation in decision-making.

    • Ya-wei Chou warned that AI could either enhance or erode participation, depending on whether governments use it to empower citizens or control narratives.

    • Reema Patel emphasized that co-designing AI tools with affected communities is essential to ensure that civic tech remains human-centered.

The speakers agreed that the key challenge moving forward is ensuring that AI remains a tool for collective decision-making rather than an automated replacement for democratic deliberation.

Next Steps & Resources

This conversation is just beginning. Are you ready to engage communities and mobilize support for inclusive decision-making?

  • 🚀 Explore the new Digital Participation Tool Ratings!

  • 🏆 Build a customized digital participation action plan on the interactive Participation Playbook

  • 🌟 Apply for the Rising Stars mentorship program to receive 1-on-1 support to run your own citizen engagement program. Apply now to join the next cycle in June

  • 🧑‍💻 Take the online courses for guidance on a variety of topics, from digital tools to inclusion

  • 🤝 Apply to become a People Powered member, and join us in our mission to ensure everyone has a voice in making government decisions.