Artifcial Inteligence
@GoogleDeepMind – Unsplash
Artificial intelligence & digital democracy
The developments in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning hold great dangers, but also a lot of potential for democratic opinion-forming on the internet. Since the technological possibilities for training AI models are developing very quickly and these models are becoming more and more widespread at the same time, we as an association are also in a constant learning process. One important prerequisite is already clear to us as Liquid Democracy e.V.: Artificial intelligence can only meaningfully support our democratic discourse if its development is oriented towards the common good and the training and use of AI models is made as transparent and comprehensible as possible. It is also important to be aware of the possible discrimination risks of AI systems and to actively counteract them.
With this in mind, since 2020 we have been critically exploring and testing the opportunities, but also the risks, surrounding AI on the basis of our vision, mission and values. Drawing on long-standing and new partnerships with universities, research institutions and other civil society organisations, we are testing the integration of AI models into our participation software Adhocracy. In addition, in collaborations with universities and other partner institutions, we are researching the impact of AI-powered moderation on discussions online and developing ideas and concepts on how AI can be used meaningfully for digital democracy.
Artificial intelligence research projects
In three of our current projects, we are looking at AI language models as well as automatic detection of fake news.
KI-MoDi
The aim of this project is to create a concept for the detection and correction of discrimination in AI language models. Together with Beyond AI Collective e.V., Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and TU Ilmenau, we are developing ideas and processes for this on the basis of our AI language model developed in the KOSMO project.
Duration: 06/2023 - 12/2023
More information: KI-MoDi project page
KOSMO
The aim of KOSMO is to find out whether and how the moderation of digital discourse can be supported with AI, so that the quality of discussion is increased. In the project, we integrated a prototype for an AI-based moderation assistant into our digital participation platform adhocracy.plus. The KOSMO language model was developed by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.
Duration: 04/2020-03/2023
More information https://liqd.net/de/projects/kosmo/
DeFactS
Testing how to counter disinformation campaigns in digital online discussions with AI is the goal of our project DeFaktS. Together with the Forschungszentrum Informatik and the Philipps-Universität Marburg, an AI algorithm for the automated detection of disinformation will be integrated into our software adhocracy.plus and tested to see what effect this has on online discussions.
Duration: 01/2022 - 12/2024
More information: https://liqd.net/de/projects/defakts/
- How can we integrate AI into digital participation platforms in a sustainable and meaningful way?
- How can AI be used transparently and meaningfully to enhance the quality of online discussions?
- How can AI be used meaningfully to increase the accessibility of democratic processes?
- How can discrimination risks of AI language models (Large Language Models and Foundation Models) be identified and counteracted?
- How can Explainable AI work in practice - especially in the context of digital democracy?
- What does it take to participate in and advance the development of public good AI as an NGO with few resources?
- How can we ensure that AI models are developed, trained and operated under economically fair and ecologically sustainable conditions?
- How can we ensure that generative AI is not used to influence democratic discourse through the generation and misinformation?
Artificial Intelligence
@GoogleDeepMind – Pexels
Our learning process and milestones
06/2023
Talk at re:publica: High Standards and Low Budget – Artificial Intelligence for Democratic Public Spheres (Link)
05/2023
Our idea “KI-MoDi” is awarded a prize in the ideas competition “Gemeinsam wird es KI” of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS). (Link)
02/2023
Liquid Academy: How artificial intelligence can revolutionize citizen participation (Link)
11/2022
Launch of the KOSMO prototype (Link)
01/2022
Start of the DeFakts project (Link)
11/ 2020
Liquid Tank #5 regarding Sexist AI (Link)
04/2020
The implementation of our project “KOSMO” begins (Link)
Contact us
Do you have questions, ideas for cooperation or suggestions on AI and digital democracy? Feel free to contact us!