Online deliberation typically takes place in hybrid forms, with mixed onsite and online sessions and synchronous as well as asynchronous contributions. Having deliberations online poses its own challenges, as compared to onsite deliberation, and in our research we envision and investigate the possibilities for LLM-based applications of generative AI to address these challenges.
Currently, the platform for Public Dialogues, which we developed for online deliberation, does not yet deploy any form of AI. However, the first usage studies and the availability of generative AI have prompted the formulation of many new user needs as well as research questions. Aiming to invite discussion, I will present some thoughts on user needs from the perspective of different user roles, on how AI might manifest itself in an online deliberation, and on the purposes and effects we intend to study of introducing AI in online deliberation. For example, how are different manifestations of AI in an online deliberation related to different effects on the user experience and the quality of the deliberation?
Speaker: Jos van Leeuwen (HHS)
