Launch of report on AI-assisted local mini-publics on climate change

We are delighted to launch our report, co-produced with our partner Hope for the Future, exploring the results from a field-study in Kirklees on AI-assisted local mini-publics on climate change. The study demonstrates that bespoke AI assistants with place-based knowledge can support citizens to better understand options for local climate action. AI assistants can help citizens produce, on average, higher quality policy inputs by providing (place-based) expertise (about 37% quality improvement). However, AI assistants do not remove the need for human facilitators. And there are caveats, as AI assistants may disrupt citizen deliberation flow and make citizens potentially less confident in trusting their lived experience.

We would like to thank Kirklees Council for their support for this research project. Without their cooperation, this project would have not been possible. We also would like to thank the Ravensthorpe Community Centre for supporting our project, recruiting participants, providing their premises for the mini-publics and hosting us with so much generosity and warmth.

We are grateful for the funding (Reference: UKRI2043) from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) that made this project possible.

Read the full report here: Report for Kirklees Council.