AI for social cohesion

Participants report that talking to the system’s chatbots is “freeing” and rewarding. In one example, a student who interacts with a “teacher” chatbot is asked to share their stories or memories of interacting with teachers. Based on what the student shares, the “teacher” bot might respond, “Sometimes I don’t effectively listen to what my students ... See more

The essay describes this broad paradigm—which emphasizes the benefits of deliberation and sortition—and explains why it is insufficient for understanding or acting in a healthy democracy. We argue that we should instead focus on enduring democratic publics and how they shape collective behavior. That would raise very different questions. How might ... See more

A young man in his mid-twenties, working in financial administration, sighed as he described the state of political discussion in his community. Despite the town being a “melting pot” of people from diverse backgrounds, there was a strong “disconnect” between groups and an inability, he sensed, for people with differing views to really understand o... See more