UN Event Explores AI’s Potential and Perils in Shaping the Future of Governance and Citizen Engagement
UN Event Explores AI’s Potential and Perils in Shaping the Future of Governance and Citizen Engagement
A special event marking the International Day of Democracy
On 10 September 2024 a thought-provoking discussion "Navigating AI for Governance and Citizen Engagement" was held at the United Nations Headquarters, ahead of the International Day of Democracy. Organized by the United Nations Democracy Fund as part of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the event highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on democratic processes, civic engagement, and governance.
The panel brought together leading experts from civil society, academia, and the United Nations diving into AI's potential as a game-changing tool for enhancing good governance and the looming challenges of its fast-paced evolution:
- Ms. Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships.
- Mr. Abdelrahman Mansour, Director of the Open Transformation Lab and Arabi Facts hub, who leads a UNDEF project focused on combating misinformation in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Ms. Anya Schiffrin, Director of the Technology, Media, and Communications specialization at Columbia University.
- Ms. Sarah Lister, Head of Governance at the UN Development Programme’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
- Ms. Irene Blázquez Navarro, Director of the Center for Governance of Change at IE University.
The discussion was moderated by Mr. Tony Maciulis, Chief Content Officer at GZERO Media who kick of the discussion by making the assertion that “AI can be both a tool and a weapon.” Ms. Hou underscored the dual-edged nature of AI's rapid development emphasizing the need to direct it towards fostering good governance.
The first segment tackled the complicated issue of misinformation, Ms. Schiffrin warned that “Platforms are doing less to mitigate misinformation online than they were a few years ago.” Mr. Mansour spotlighted the dire consequences of misinformation in the MENA region, citing instances from his work where disinformation campaigns had fueled political oppression and violence. He painted a stark picture of “citizens trapped in a cycle of tech harm,” exacerbated by false narratives on social media that have led to real-world tragedies.
“We are talking about the impacts of AI, and we are talking about the impacts of what we in UNDP call ‘Information Pollution,’ but the two are not necessarily synonymous”, added Ms. Lister, drawing a crucial distinction between AI’s broader impact and the specific threat of misinformation.
In the second segment, Mr. Maciulis explored the dual aspects of governance related to AI: its influence on governance and the impact of governance on AI. Ms. Schiffrin emphasized the critical role of regulation, stating that “regulation serves as a nudge” and highlighting the essential role of government oversight in this area. Ms. Lister added that while the EU and some member states have made significant progress in national AI governance, many regions around the world continue to face substantial challenges in this domain.
Ms. Blázquez Navarro brought a hopeful perspective, highlighting AI’s potential to boost civic engagement and transparency in governance. She argued that AI could transform policy information and accessibility, ultimately “[…] building trust in democracy.”
The presence of some 30 students from New York-based university faculties brought a fresh perspective to the discussion.
Ms. Hou summed it up: “It’s all about equity right now - making sure that we don’t see new inequities emerge through technology and innovation”.
Annemarie Hou, Executive Director UN Office for Partnerships
Catch the full panel discussion []
Short videos of International Day of Democracy 2024 [Video 1, Video 2, Video 3]
Read the Secretary-General’s Message for International Day of Democracy 2024: []
Learn more about the International Day of Democracy [here]
About the International Day of Democracy
Observed on 15 September each year, the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
