Emerging Technologies, Industry Self-Regulation, and Democratic Legitimacy

Abstract

The panel seeks to explore the democratic implications of private efforts to safeguard AI, quantum, and related technologies. On the one hand, many people think developers and operators bear significant responsibility for mitigating ethical risks and ensuring that models are ethically aligned. On the other hand, given the pervasive effects of emerging tech, those who control its features enjoy considerable power, which might sometimes clash with notions of (e.g.) self-determination, political equality, public accountability, or deliberation. How might certain technology governance practices threaten democratic norms? When can these concerns be undercut or outweighed? Which approaches are consistent with or promotive of democratic legitimacy? Among many potential topics, papers might explore the democratic credentials/implications of alignment approaches like RLHF, standard-setting bodies like IEEE and ISO, third-party auditing schemes, or stakeholder engagement approaches, as well as more fundamental theoretical questions about the relationship between democracy, business, and technology.

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