Assembling public perspectives on AI

The voice of the public has generally been left out of policy debates on the governance of AI. In October 2023, Syracuse University Professor Baobao Zhang partnered with the Center for New Democratic Processes (CNDP) to conduct the Public Assembly on High Risk AI (AI Assembly).

The AI Assembly is the first national deliberative event on AI in the United States and represents a significant step toward understanding public sentiment on AI-related issues and shaping the conversation around the role of AI systems in society, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and responsible use. The AI Assembly convened forty randomly selected U.S. residents virtually over eight days. Assembly participants heard from experts and deliberated regarding risk assessment, accountability and responsibility, and determining potential harms associated with various uses of AI (including administrative, health, search, and face recognition systems).

On December 13, the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative at Brookings, in partnership with CNDP, hosted an event to launch the results of the AI Assembly.  AI Assembly team members presented results from the report and national survey, and Assembly participants shared insights from their experience in the process. Brookings Fellow Valerie Wirtschafter was then joined by an expert panel to assess the Assembly’s implications for policymakers and the tech industry and reflect on the path forward for democratic deliberation on the governance of artificial intelligence.

Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing [email protected] or via X (formerly Twitter) at @BrookingsInst by using #AIAssembly 

Registration is required to attend an event in person and guests at Brookings are required to attest to their state of health before attending. Visitors may not enter the building if they are feeling ill for any reason, have any symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, or have tested positive for COVID-19 at any time in the preceding 5 days or longer in accordance with current CDC guidance, or have been advised by their healthcare professional or otherwise to not enter any space where some persons may not be vaccinated.