AI has a democracy problem. Citizens' assemblies can help.

When it comes to making decisions about artificial intelligence (AI), Eric Schmidt is very clear. In 2023, the former Google CEO told NBC's Meet the Press, "there's no way a nonindustry person can understand what is possible. It's just too new, too hard, there's not the expertise." But if, as Schmidt believes, AI will be the next industrial revolution, then the technology is too important to be left to technology companies. AI poses huge challenges for democratic societies, and the decisions on it are currently being made by a very small group of people. Realizing the opportunities of AI, understanding its risks, and steering it toward the public interest will require a large dose of public participation.