On October 24, 2024, the AI, Big Data & Democracy Taskforce hosted a webinar to explore the intersection of AI technologies and democratic engagement. This event, which included several EU-funded projects—AI4Gov, KT4D, ITHACA, and ORBIS—focused on fostering civic participation and ensuring transparency in AI-driven decision-making.
ORBIS, represented by Grazia Concilio and Ilaria Mariani, presented its innovative approach to bridging the gap between democratic ideals and actionable citizen engagement on a large scale. ORBIS leverages AI to support deliberative democracy processes, integrating trustworthy AI features that emphasize privacy, transparency, and ethical considerations.
Professor Grazia Concilio outlined the project’s co-design strategies, which ensure active involvement of citizens in the decision-making process. These strategies are tailored to meet the diverse needs of different communities, empowering stakeholders to participate fully in democratic deliberation.
Assistant Professor Ilaria Mariani discussed ORBIS’s commitment to data ethics and the importance of keeping a “human-in-the-loop” in AI processes. By maintaining human oversight, ORBIS ensures that AI systems used for democratic purposes respect the multiplicity of perspectives and avoid biases. Mariani emphasized the role of ORBIS in enhancing the transparency of deliberative processes, making sure AI supports rather than replaces human judgment.
The ORBIS toolkit, designed with user-centric and ethical considerations, aims to expand democratic practices across Europe, showcasing how AI can serve as a responsible partner in building resilient, inclusive societies.
Key Takeaways:
- ORBIS demonstrates a scalable model of deliberative democracy that can be applied across different European contexts.
- ORBIS emphasizes human-centric AI to support, not replace, democratic deliberation.
- Co-design processes are essential in ensuring that democratic technologies reflect the needs of diverse communities.