“It is crucial that public administration and democratic institutions use AI in communication in a way that keeps people confident and wanting to contribute to welfare,” says Elin Wihlborg, professor of political science at LiU, who is behind an initiative aimed at increasing understanding of the impact of AI on society and our trust in democracy.
The initiative, a collaboration with Microsoft within the framework of AI-lyftet (the AI Boost), is a learning initiative with the overall aim of making AI competence available throughout Sweden.
“AI will affect how we make decisions, how we exercise leadership and how we safeguard the fundamental values of democracy. It’s therefore very gratifying that our collaboration with Microsoft is now resulting in a tangible initiative making research-based knowledge about AI, ethics and social impact available to those who bear a particular responsibility in our democratic system,” says Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, vice-chancellor of LiU.
Deeper perspective
The heart of the initiative is a learning platform developed by Unitalent AB, a company owned by LiU Holding. LiU researchers are responsible for the platform’s content, which consists of a combination of short lectures, dialogue meetings and materials that provide both technical understanding of and a deeper perspective on the role of AI in society.
The initiative is aimed primarily at political candidates and elected representatives, officials, journalists and engaged citizens who are all affected by the development of AI that is rapidly changing the conditions for democratic discourse.
“When we as a university are involved in developing AI technology, we also have a responsibility to show what happens when it’s used in society. How does it affect democracy, transparency and the rule of law? How do we uphold the principles of equal treatment and impartiality? This is the process we need to understand, discuss and take responsibility for,” says Elin Wihlborg.
Magnus Johansson
Confidence in democracy
According to her, the contents primarily deal with supporting the process of standing for public office, creating trust and working in a media landscape that is far more complex than before.
“We’re not going to say what’s right or wrong politically, but we are going to help those standing as candidates in democratic elections understand how and why the system works the way it does and that technology is never neutral. Such knowledge can reduce the risk of people losing confidence in democracy and deciding not to vote,” says Elin Wihlborg.
She points out how new technology is changing the media landscape. In other countries, this has led to decreasing confidence in the democratic system and declining voter turnout. This, in turn, can undermine compliance with laws and rules, as well as the willingness to pay taxes, for example.
“We cannot and do not want to halt development, but we can educate people towards more responsible use of AI,” says Elin Wihlborg.
