Democracy in the Age of Automation

Algorithms now shape what news we see, which job applicants get interviews, who receives government benefits, and countless other decisions that affect our lives. Artificial intelligence is automating tasks once thought uniquely human—writing, creating images, analyzing complex data, even making judgments. As these technologies become more powerful and pervasive, they raise profound questions for democratic governance: Who controls these systems? How can citizens hold them accountable? And what happens to democracy when consequential decisions are made by machines?