1. Summary

The paper titled "Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: Towards Digital Authoritarianism or a Democratic Upgrade?" by Fereniki Panagopoulou critically explores how AI technologies pose both risks and opportunities to modern democratic systems. It provides an in-depth assessment of how AI affects electoral integrity, public participation, and institutional transparency.

2. Problem

• AI systems are increasingly used in political campaigns, risking manipulation and misinformation.
• Lack of regulation enables deepfakes, psychographic targeting, and surveillance, threatening democratic freedoms.
• Power imbalance due to AI monopolies undermines public governance and digital equity.
• Aligns with SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, particularly in upholding accountable and inclusive institutions.

3. Solution

• Advocates democratization of AI governance through participatory frameworks like citizens’ assemblies.
• Highlights AI’s positive applications: policy simulation, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced civic engagement platforms.
• Cites tools like pol.is (for deliberative democracy) and Leximin algorithm (for equitable assembly selection).
• Recommends legal safeguards including watermarking, algorithmic transparency, and AI content labelling as part of the EU AI Act.

4. Outcomes

• Emphasizes dual impact: AI can reinforce democratic accountability or accelerate digital authoritarianism.
• Identifies proactive regulatory frameworks (like the Digital Services Act and AI Act) as key to mitigating risks.
• Demonstrates real-world AI-enabled political applications (e.g., AI chatbots in elections, translation tools in campaigns).