The AI Citizens' Assembly - Belgian EU Presidency
- jonmoskovic
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Design - Strategy
The Artificial Intelligence Citizens' Assembly, conducted during Belgium’s presidency of the EU, was a groundbreaking initiative that placed citizens at the heart of policymaking on artificial intelligence. As a member of the advisory committee, I had the privilege of supporting the process by ensuring its methodological rigor, neutrality, and alignment with democratic principles.
The assembly brought together randomly selected citizens from across Belgium to deliberate on the ethical, social, and economic implications of AI. Its goal was to provide inclusive, citizen-driven input into the EU's AI policy framework, ensuring that the voices of citizens were meaningfully reflected in the development of this transformative technology.
Methodology
Participant Selection: A stratified random selection process was used. Participants reflected the diversity of Belgiumin terms of age, gender, geographic location, education level, and socioeconomic background.
Expert Input:To ensure participants were well-informed, the assembly began with educational sessions led by leading AI experts, ethicists, policymakers, and industry representatives. Topics included the basics of AI, its ethical dilemmas, potential benefits, and risks, as well as its implications for employment, privacy, and democratic governance.
Deliberative Process:
Small-Group Discussions: Participants engaged in facilitated small-group discussions to explore diverse perspectives and challenge assumptions.
Plenary Sessions: Broader debates allowed participants to share insights and converge on shared priorities.
Scenario Analysis: The assembly worked through future-oriented scenarios to evaluate AI’s potential impact under different policy frameworks.
Consensus-Building:Using structured deliberation tools, participants co-developed recommendations aimed at guiding EU policymakers in crafting ethical and socially responsible AI policies.
Oversight and Transparency:The independent advisory committee, including myself, ensured the process was neutral, evidence-based, and aligned with democratic principles.
Key Results
The assembly produced a set of 10 recommendations structured around three key themes:
Ethical and Responsible AI Development:
Establish EU-wide guidelines to ensure AI systems align with fundamental rights and ethical principles.
Mandate transparency in AI algorithms, including audits and public accountability for high-impact systems.
Social and Economic Impacts:
Promote AI-driven innovation that supports environmental sustainability and social well-being.
Implement robust workforce transition programs to mitigate job displacement caused by automation.
Citizen Participation and Oversight:
Create permanent citizen councils to oversee the implementation of AI policies.
Develop accessible public education campaigns to enhance digital literacy and public understanding of AI.
Impact
The assembly’s recommendations were presented to the EU Council and served as a foundational input into discussions on the EU AI Act and other regulatory initiatives. Beyond policy influence, the process itself demonstrated the value of embedding citizen voices into complex policy debates, setting a precedent for similar initiatives at the European level.
