Washington University in St. Louis
Project Title
For a one-time project on anticipating the political impacts of artificial intelligence in Latin America as part of a Request for Proposals on Understanding the Forces Shaping the Global Order
Date
Sep. 12, 2024
Duration
27 months
Description
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries, governments, and the international order. While AI promises significant advancements, it also poses challenges, particularly in labor markets with a high risk of job replacement. Although existing research has highlighted the economic consequences of AI, little is known about its political impacts. This project addresses this crucial knowledge gap by examining how AI adoption affects political attitudes and policy preferences. The research team has strategically chosen to begin in Latin America due to its economic and political diversity, and because AI adoption will lag behind the Global North, thereby allowing a unique opportunity to study the initial impacts of AI exposure. The methodologies developed, and insights gained from this research will be applicable to understanding AI’s impacts in other developing regions and even in more advanced economies.
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Project Title
As one-time funding for a project on the role of populism in democracies as part of a Request for Proposals (RFP) on “Reimagining Multilateralism and U.S. Foreign Policy”
Date
Sep. 14, 2023
Duration
36 months
Description
The project presents an innovative and rigorous approach toward understanding and responding to populist rhetoric on social media. It builds on work that started in September 2020 with the collection and analysis of data from 87 democracies. By extending their existing research on elite communications on social media, the project intends to create a comprehensive dataset, analyze the data, and conduct surveys to shed light on the prevalence and consequences of populist rhetoric. The goal is to contribute to the development of effective strategies to combat democratic erosion and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide.