AI-Centered Agenda-Setting: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kwanpyo Bae
Director of CAPORCI, Chungnam National University
Agenda-setting is the first gateway of the policy process and determines the subsequent direction of policy. Traditionally, policymakers have relied on surveys to gauge public opinion, but it has become increasingly difficult to capture the complexities of policy issues and the rapidly shifting concerns of the public through conventional methods. In response, AI-based analyses such as social simulation have opened up new possibilities. However, the data on which AI learns often contain biases and imbalances, posing risks to the democratic legitimacy of the agenda-setting process. We must harness the potential of AI while remaining vigilant about its limitations, strengthening data governance and advancing digital citizenship to address these challenges. This presentation discusses the rise of AI-centered agenda-setting and its democratic implications in public policy, and proposes strategies for building digital citizenship in the age of AI.
