On July 14th, TWON researcher Jonas Fegert (FZI Research Center for Information Technology), was invited as a panelist to the event “Who owns AI? On democratization, control and power relations” hosted by the House for Journalism and the Public Sphere in Berlin. The panel discussion explored how artificial intelligence can be shaped and governed democratically and what social, political and technological conditions are needed to make that possible.
At the heart of the discussion were fundamental questions about power structures in the field of AI. Today, artificial intelligence influences many areas of life, from work and education to everyday decision-making. Yet major developments in this space are often driven by large tech corporations without meaningful input from democratic institutions or the public. The panel reflected on what it could mean to democratize AI, who should have a say in its direction and what roles parliaments, research institutions and civil society can play in this process.
The event offered a valuable opportunity to engage with international experts from philosophy, social science and technology ethics. Many thanks to the organizers for the invitation and the insightful discussion.
