Are TikTok, Youtube, social media and messenger services harmful for democracy? What effect will artificial intelligence have on the automation of fake news and propaganda? What can be done to increase citizen engagement and reduce cynicism about politics?
These are some of the topics that author and technology analyst Azeem Azhar (Exponential View) discusses with Apolitical founders Robyn Scott and Lisa Witter.
“I’m one of those weird people who, since the time I can remember, loved politics. So I see it as a force for good”, Witter says.
Apolitical, she explains, is a global network and learning platform “used by more than 200,000 public servants in 160 different countries to equip themselves for the 21st century”.
AI is one of the big themes that, like climate change, is “rewiring societies and economies”, Robyn Scott adds – and governments are well aware of its impact. “Everyone knows it’s important”, she says. What’s often lacking, she adds, is a deeper understanding of the technology.
One of the promises of AI, Scott notes, is that it can make interactions between citizens and government agencies easier – which could improve people’s perception of government. “There’s emerging research suggesting that your frequency of interaction, of touching the state, improves your relationship and trust in government”, she says.
Watch the video for more insights into technology in government and the impact of AI on democracy.
