Democracy and AI
About the Project
As generative artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes political communication and governance, there is an urgent need to understand its implications for democratic systems. While AI technologies have the potential to strengthen democracy (by improving access to information, enhancing participation, and supporting transparency and accountability) they also pose significant risks. These include the spread of disinformation, algorithmic bias, and the manipulation of electoral processes.
Addressing this dual challenge, this Europa project brings together a multidisciplinary network from six partner institutions to develop a pioneering framework for assessing both the democratic risks and opportunities associated with AI. The project involves 26 researchers from Leiden University, University College Dublin, Free University of Berlin, University of Edinburgh, KU Leuven, and University of Zurich.
Integrating expertise from political science, communication studies, and computer science, the project will examine the impact of AI on democratic values, electoral integrity, and governance, in close consultation with key societal stakeholders.
Core activities include an interdisciplinary research workshop, a grant development workshop, and a virtual training programme on AI for research. Together, these initiatives will strengthen collaboration, build research capacity, and position Una Europa to lead future international funding initiatives in this critical area.
By co-developing innovative analytical tools and conceptual frameworks, the project aims to advance the state of the art while contributing to the protection and resilience of democratic systems in the age of AI.
The project is funded by the Una Europa Seed Funding Scheme 2025.
Participating Institutions
Events
Connected_Politics Lab Seminar Series, Spring Trimester
The Seminar Series of the Connected_Politics Lab, a partner of the Una Europa project, hosts the following speakers in the Spring Trimester 2026:
- 28 January: Jessica Di Cocco (University College Dublin)
- 11 February: Akitaka Matsuo (University of Essex)
- 25 February: Malo Jan, Noemie Piolat, Luis Sattelmayer (Sciences Po Paris)
- 4 March: Vivien Fabry (Free University Berlin)
- 1 April: Elisa D’Amico (University College Dublin)
- 15 April: Miriam Sorace (University of Reading)
Democracy and AI Project Workshop
A “Democracy and AI” project workshop will take place at the National University of Ireland from 22–24 June 2026.
Consortium
Institutional Project Leads
Click on a profile to learn more about the project leads.
Members
The additional members of the consortium are sorted alphabetically by surname. Click on a profile to learn more about each researcher.
Coverage
- Una Europa: 10 new projects receive Una Europa Seed Funding to shape Europe’s future
- University College Dublin: UCD-co-led research into AI’s influence on democracy awarded seed funding
- Universiteit Leiden: How does artificial intelligence influence democratic processes?
Contact
For inquiries about the project, collaboration opportunities, or upcoming events, feel free to contact the Co-PIs:
- Tom Louwerse: t.p.louwerse@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
- Stefan Müller: stefan.mueller@ucd.ie
This project is funded through the Una Europa alliance, a network of eleven research-intensive universities committed to creating a truly European inter-university environment.