When democracy meets AI: A two-way transformation

The University of Birmingham is ramping up its successful collaboration with the Swedish Defence Agency for Peace, Security and Development, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, to help integrate AI into international development work – while also critically reflecting on its impact.

Building on earlier cooperation on technology for peacebuilding, scholars of the Centre for AI in Government (CAIG) and the Institute for Data and AI (IDAI) are advising policymakers and civil society leaders on the use of emerging technologies to strengthen election integrity, public service delivery, and citizen participation. This forms part of CAIG’s wider outreach initiative to translate research into practice while also bringing back insights from practice to generate more impactful academic work.

From academic insight to societal impact

Prof. Dr. Slava Jankin, Chair in Data Science and Government, Director of the Centre for AI in Government, and Deputy Director of the Institute for Data and AI, authored new policy guidance on “Democratic Resilience in the Age of Advanced AI”.

The document sets out practical safeguards and a roadmap for governments, drawing on analysis of policy frameworks and global practice. It distils lessons learned, while pointing out critical blind spots.

This policy guidance captures the stakes clearly - artificial intelligence is neither inherently democratic nor authoritarian. What matters is institutional capacity — the skills, processes, and safeguards that determine whether AI strengthens or undermines democracy.

This research directly supports government agencies and civil society organisations seeking to mitigate risks such as disinformation campaigns, biased automated services, and the erosion of public trust.

Direct benefits for policy and practice

Dr. Martin Waehlisch, Associate Professor at the Centre for AI in Government and the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS), contributed comparative insights from his work on technology in peace processes (“PeaceTech”) and democratic transitions after conflict.

His contributions make it clear that, in fragile and conflict-affected states, AI risks are magnified. Misinformation or failures in automated public services can destabilise entire societies. But with the right safeguards, AI can also build trust by enabling transparent elections, accountable governance, and inclusive dialogue.

Together, the Birmingham team’s contributions are helping to:

• Inform public policy by supporting institutions and national governments in incorporating AI governance safeguards into their strategies.
• Strengthen international development programmes by assessing the impact of AI on countries in transition and supporting election commissions and public administrations.
• Support civil society initiatives by equipping NGOs in conflict-affected contexts to counter manipulation and foster meaningful citizen engagement.

Global reach of Birmingham research

This work by the Centre for AI in Government is feeding directly into policy dialogues with national governments and regional and international organisations. It demonstrates how University of Birmingham research delivers impact beyond academia, influencing policy, strengthening democratic resilience, and shaping the responsible use of AI worldwide.

By connecting decision-makers and practitioners with cutting-edge scholarship, Birmingham academics are bridging the gap between research and real-world governance — ensuring that AI serves democracy, not the other way around.

Prof. Dr Slava Jankin and Dr Martin Waehlisch – University of Birmingham