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POL 38 — Reimagining Democracy: AI and the Future of Civic Engagement

Quarter: Spring
Instructor(s): Alice Siu
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: Online
Date(s): Apr 20—Jun 1
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Mondays
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Please Note: No class on May 25
Tuition: $310
   
Refund Deadline: Apr 22
 
Unit(s): 0
   
Status: Registration opens Feb 23, 8:30 am (PT)
 
Quarter: Spring
Day: Mondays
Duration: 6 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Apr 20—Jun 1
Unit(s): 0
Location: Online
 
Tuition: $310
 
Refund Deadline: Apr 22
 
Instructor(s): Alice Siu
 
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
 
Recording Available: Yes
 
Status: Registration opens Feb 23, 8:30 am (PT)
 
Please Note: No class on May 25
 
 
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how societies engage, deliberate, and make decisions. But what role should AI play in democracy, and how do we balance its potential with its risks? This course explores the intersection of AI and deliberative democracy—a model of governance emphasizing informed, inclusive, and respectful discourse. It is based on a popular class offered to Stanford undergraduates and led by a senior Stanford research scholar. We will investigate how platforms like Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic use AI to enhance civic engagement and democratic decision-making, and we'll explore key questions: How can AI support democratic processes? What challenges arise in integrating AI into governance? How can democratic principles guide the regulation of AI technologies? Students will engage in discussions, analyze real-world examples, and develop strategies for using AI to foster more participatory and equitable governance.

This course explores how AI is used by governments, technology companies, and citizens to shape deliberation and participation in public life. It emphasizes discussion, analysis, and critical reflection rather than programming or technical training. No prior technical background is required.

ALICE SIU
Associate Director of the Deliberative Democracy Lab and Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford

Alice Siu received a PhD in communication from Stanford, with a focus in political communication, deliberative democracy, and public opinion. She also received a BA in economics and in public policy and an MA in political science from Stanford. Siu has advised policymakers and political and industry leaders around the world at various levels of government. Her research interests in deliberative democracy include the quality of deliberation, scaling deliberation to K–16, and scaling deliberation through technology for deliberative societies.