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

• Quarter: Summer

• Duration: 6 weeks

• Date(s): Jul 17—Aug 21

• Class Meeting Day: Thursdays

• Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)

• Tuition: $360

• Refund Deadline: Jul 19

• Unit(s): 0

• Status: No Status

• Instructor(s): Alice Siu

• Location: Online (*)

• Class Recording Available: Yes

• Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade

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 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.