Scads.AI – Digital Participation in Local Communities & AI

Digital means of citizen participation have increased progressively. This also applies to state-run opportunities for digital participation on all levels (national, regional, local). At the same time, artificial intelligence is gaining influence in the public sector for data processing and automated decision-making. The impact of the use of AI on democracy and co-determination opportunities for citizens has not been researched so far.

The project „Local Digital Participation and Artificial Intelligence“ investigates particularly political participation on the local level and the influence of artificial intelligence on their implementations. The goal is to capture how digital opportunities promote local participation and how artificial intelligence influences their process, communication and decision-making. To do so, local digital participation opportunities, platforms and their use will be analyzed empirically to evaluate their influence, use, benefits, advantages or disadvantages, as well as ethical consequences of artificial intelligence in connection to citizen participation. 

The project is part of the interdisciplinary research field „Responsible AI“, which is situated within the national competence center for big data and artificial intelligence ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig. ScaDS.AI researches innovation within the framework of responsible development of AI technology and their employment. Here, ethical, legal and political questions in connection to artificial intelligence are being identified, conceptualized and moved towards practical solutions.

Project Manager: Prof. Dr. Marianne Kneuer

Research Associate: TBD