IYTT at Canada’s largest Conference on Artificial Intelligence

Advocating for a Citizen-Centric Approach Towards Artificial & Inclusive Intelligence (AII)

29 November

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly influential force in shaping contemporary societies and has profound implications for democratic systems worldwide. Its integration into various aspects of governance, communication, and decision-making processes has both positive and challenging ramifications for the functioning of democracies and the fabric of societies.

It is for those reasons that the IYTT is increasingly expanding its activities and network into the field of AI and why IYTT Youth Fellow Mathes Rausch participated in and spoke at the CEIMIA Innovations Workshop as well as Canada’s largest AI conference, the ALL-IN Conference in Montreal, advocating for an ethical and citizen-centric approach towards Artificial and Inclusive Intelligence (AII).

CEIMIA Innovations Workshop and ALL-IN Conference: Key Venues Gathering AI Experts & Policymakers

The CEIMIA Innovations Workshop and the ALL-IN Conference in Montreal gathered a diverse range of stakeholders ranging from AI experts, government representatives, including Canada’s President Justin Trudeau, to AI policymakers, working on developing AI policies in their respective countries – thus offering the perfect venue for IYTT to speak.

IYTT Youth Fellow Mathes Rausch used this opportunity to present the IYTT as a vibrant transnational democracy lab, shaped by its diverse Youth Fellows organizing innovative and citizen-centric initiatives globally. Yet, at the core of the presentation was the citizen-centric IYTT data collected during this year’s Open Chair Democracy Talks (OCDT) campaign. Having added key questions on AI, analyzing this year’s OCDT data enabled a novel analysis based on citizens’ opinions, perceptions, and demands not only on democracy but also on AI. We found that though AI is often perceived as an alien issue, citizens’ reflections on AI are similar to their reflections on democracy based around 6 key themes.

6 Key Themes of Citizens’ Reflections on Democracy & AI

1) Governance

2) Participation & Elections

3) Privacy & Security

4) Knowledge & Information

5) Education

6) Inclusion

Citizens’ opinions, perceptions, and demands exhibit striking similarities in their concerns regarding democracy and AI across these 6 key themes. In terms of governance, there is a shared desire for transparency and accountability in decision-making processes, both in the context of democratic governance and the development of AI systems. Additionally, in the realm of participation and elections, citizens emphasize the need for fair and inclusive mechanisms that prevent manipulation and ensure the integrity of democratic processes, mirroring their expectations for unbiased and ethical AI algorithms. Concerns surrounding privacy and security underscore the importance of safeguarding personal data and preventing potential abuses of power, resonating with the call for robust data protection measures in the realm of AI. Furthermore, citizens emphasize the necessity of reliable, accurate, and unbiased knowledge and information in both domains, highlighting the significance of combating misinformation and promoting fact-based decision-making. In the context of education, there is a shared recognition of the importance of equipping individuals with the necessary skills to understand and engage with democratic processes and AI technologies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and accessible education in both spheres. Lastly, the imperative for inclusion underscores the need to ensure that marginalized communities have a voice in shaping democratic structures and benefiting from AI advancements, emphasizing the importance of promoting diversity and equity in both domains. It is based on this analysis that in his presentation IYTT Youth Fellow Mathes stressed the need and called upon all AI experts and policymakers to shift from AI to AII – Artificial and Inclusive Intelligence.

3 Main Take-Aways on the Status Quo of AI

1) Policymaking: AI is among the crucial policy topics of our time – much is being done but governments are still at the beginning of developing regulatory frameworks.

2) Citizen-Inclusion: Processes of developing AI systems tend to lack a citizen-centric focus.

3) Education: There is a widespread lack of adequately informing and educating citizens on the development and functioning of AI systems.

The IYTT as a Key Driver towards Artificial & Inclusive Intelligence (AII)

All three areas are already crucial to the work of the IYTT and through our citizen-centric initiatives and data collection, the IYTT can and will play a key role in shaping AI policymaking, citizen inclusion in the development of AI systems, and developing adequate AI education tools for citizens – because we need informed adaptation to ensure an inclusive AI transformation.

In democratic contexts, AI’s impact is particularly critical as it raises questions about the transparency and accountability of decision-making, the potential for manipulation in electoral processes, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights and freedoms. The need to balance innovation with ethical considerations becomes imperative to ensure AI fosters democratic values and serves the broader interests of societies by developing citizen-centric policy frameworks.

Participating and speaking at both the CEIMIA Innovations Workshop as well as the ALL-IN Conference has been an important step to raise the IYTT’s visibility and gain key contacts in the sphere of AI. This was just the beginning of an exciting journey in which the IYTT will continue to advocate for and actively develop citizen-centric policy approaches towards Artificial & Inclusive Intelligence (AII).