Leveraging AI to Enhance Proposal Development in Participatory Budgeting Processes

In participatory budgeting processes, proposals often yield better results when guided by expert input. However, scaling these processes to include more participants—whether online or offline—is hindered by the limited availability of such expertise. Emerging technologies, like generative AI, present an opportunity to address these challenges by automating and improving aspects of proposal refinement. Through a user-centered approach, we identify key requirements for AI-based tools that assist citizens in generating, enhancing, and validating their ideas. Our goal is to explore how AI-driven support, including contextual suggestions, highlighted improvements, and enhanced clarity, can contribute to more inclusive and effective participatory budgeting.