Identifying Citizens’ Needs by Combining Artificial Intelligence (Ai) and Collective Intelligence (Ci)

92 Pages Posted: 2 Apr 2020

See all articles by Andrew J. Zahuranec

Andrew J. Zahuranec

New York University (NYU)

Andrew Young

New York University (NYU)

Stefaan Verhulst

New York University (NYU) ; Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB); The Data Tank; The GovLab

Date Written: October 10, 2019

Abstract

Around the world, public leaders want new ways to understand the needs of their citizens, improve governance, and solve public problems. Many new approaches to public engagement tend to focus on two innovations. The first involves artificial intelligence (AI), which offers unprecedented abilities to quickly process vast quantities of data to deepen insights into public needs. The second is collective intelligence (CI), which provides means for tapping into the “wisdom of the crowd.” Both have strengths and weaknesses, but little is known on how organizations could use them in combination to radically transform and enable more responsive governance. By examining five uses of tools with AI and CI elements, this report demonstrates the potential of these technologies for identifying and responding to citizens’ needs. It outlines the context, development, outcome, and implications of each case. The analysis finds that, while AI and CI tools remain nascent, greater emphasis on planning and improved partnerships can improve the likelihood of successful outcomes.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, AI, Collective Intelligence, Public Policy, Citizen Engagement

Suggested Citation

Zahuranec, Andrew and Young, Andrew and Verhulst, Stefaan, Identifying Citizens’ Needs by Combining Artificial Intelligence (Ai) and Collective Intelligence (Ci) (October 10, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3467819 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3467819

Andrew Zahuranec

New York University (NYU) ( email )

Bobst Library, E-resource Acquisitions
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New York, NY 10003-711
United States

Andrew Young (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) ( email )

Bobst Library, E-resource Acquisitions
20 Cooper Square 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003-711
United States

Stefaan Verhulst

New York University (NYU) ( email )

Bobst Library, E-resource Acquisitions
20 Cooper Square 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003-711
United States

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) ( email )

Pleinlaan 2
http://www.vub.ac.be/
Brussels, 1050
Belgium

The Data Tank ( email )

Brussels
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://datatank.org

The GovLab ( email )

New York, New York
United States
16465731361 (Phone)
16465731361 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://Thegovlab.org

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