Why AI and Democracy?

This chapter examines the evolving relationships between data, AI, and democracy, exploring how emerging technologies are transforming governance and civic participation. While AI holds substantial promise—enhancing public service delivery, facilitating citizen engagement, and streamlining communication between institutions and constituents—it also introduces significant risks, including algorithmic bias, misinformation, surveillance, and corporate dominance. These dual dynamics frame the chapter’s analysis, which is anchored in both theoretical foundations and empirical observations. In light of this, the chapter begins by unpacking the promise and risk associated with AI in democratic contexts, situating current debates within the broader landscape of civic technologies and e-participation. It then examines the state of the art through two key sources: the 2025 Digital Participation Tools Ratings by People Powered and the IPU's 2025 report on AI use in parliaments. Finally, the chapter situates four EU-funded initiatives—ORBIS, KT4D, AI4GOV, and ITHACA—within this landscape, highlighting their contributions to advancing democratic innovation through technological, ethical, and participatory approaches.