Listening to the Public with AI

This session will explore how AI can help governments better understand and respond to community priorities without losing the richness of public perspectives. Drawing on the “What Could BG Be?” initiative in Bowling Green, Ohio, participants will see how city leaders and researchers used AI to process community feedback, capture sentiment, and highlight minority voices that might otherwise be overlooked. The conversation will also address risks and safeguards, emphasizing how AI can complement—not replace—human judgment in civic engagement. Attendees will gain insight into both the promise and the challenges of using AI to create more inclusive, transparent, and responsive public processes. Moderated by Danielle Allen, Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation, Harvard Kennedy School.