Democracy x AI Cohort
$1M in global awards to build technology that strengthens self-governance
Democracy stands at a crossroads. Around the globe, citizens are losing faith in institutions while media polarization fractures our shared understanding of truth. Political systems buckle under the pressure of viral slop, algorithmic amplification, and AI-driven propaganda.
But the same AI technologies being weaponized to undermine democratic discourse can be reimagined as tools for democratic renewal. AI can enhance civic engagement, increase institutional transparency, and restore trust in collective decision-making. It can detect disinformation, enable participatory governance, and protect digital rights. The choice is ours: AI can either be democracy's greatest threat or its most powerful ally.
The technologies to protect democracy are already emerging. Researchers are detecting AI propaganda efforts. Developers are building transparent governance platforms. Activists are defending digital rights. These working prototypes prove AI can serve democracy—but they're stuck in the critical gap between breakthrough ideas and lasting impact. This is a pivotal moment. Democracy can't wait.
That's why we're launching the Democracy x AI Cohort.
What we're building
We're assembling a global cohort of changemakers building AI systems to protect and enhance democracy. Through funding and support, we'll help breakthrough ideas transition from prototype to sustainability, connecting them with the communities, mentors, and resources they need to create lasting democratic impact. In doing so we will be guided by one simple question: How can we leverage AI to enhance democratic practices and institutions for the twenty-first century?
The call for proposals for this Cohort will launch in 2026. We're seeking many kinds of projects that use AI to strengthen democracy, including:
Information fidelity
- Diversifying information flows and increasing the sharing of fact-based information
- Exploring LLMs for fact-checking and politically neutral content moderation
- Identity verification to prevent bots and fake accounts
- Facilitating consensus-building amongst polarized citizens
Institutional trust-building
- Increasing transparency government decision-making
- Integrating public input into governance
- Developing accountability mechanisms for public officials
- Building platforms that enable collective action and civic participation
Civic activation
- Protecting freedom of expression and association in digital spaces
- Creating technologies that empower citizens to resist propaganda and polarization
- Expanding access to civic education and resources
- Defending the digital public sphere from authoritarian misuse
Have an idea? Get involved now
Share your early ideas, prototypes, or deployed tools that offer positive uses of AI to augment and reimagine democratic participation and learn how you can join our community of changemakers.
By submitting your information below, you'll be the first to know when applications open—and you'll help us refine our challenge to surface the most promising solutions. Questions? Contact us at [email protected].
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