Washington D.C. – A significant convening on AI-enabled policymaking brought together 70 policymakers, AI labs, and civil society organizations in Washington D.C. on May 15, 2025. The event, hosted by the AI-Enabled Policymaking Project, aimed to identify concrete use cases for artificial intelligence in democratic governance. Lauren Wagner, a key organizer, highlighted the collaborative effort, stating in a recent tweet, "My Emergent Ventures grant helped me host the first AI-enabled policymaking convening in Washington DC with @RANDCorporation and @InstituteGC."
The gathering was a collaborative effort between the RAND Corporation, the Stimson Center, and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, with support from Emergent Ventures at the Mercatus Center, an initiative championed by economist Tyler Cowen. Wagner expressed her appreciation for this backing, tweeting, "So appreciate @tylercowen's generosity and vision." The event underscored the growing recognition of AI's potential to enhance policy processes amidst an increasingly complex global landscape.
Participants explored how AI tools could support various stages of the policy life cycle, from research and formulation to stakeholder engagement. Discussions focused on leveraging AI to analyze and synthesize vast amounts of information in real-time, addressing a critical need for policymakers struggling with rapid global changes. The RAND Corporation's report on the convening emphasized the necessity for "strategic adoption and development of AI tools to enhance policymaking processes and outcomes."
While the potential benefits of AI in governance were a central theme, the workshop also confronted structural obstacles to its effective deployment. These included concerns over unclear AI usage policies, privacy implications, and a lack of institutional support within government bodies. Experts also debated the appropriate balance between AI automation and human oversight, stressing the importance of maintaining democratic principles.
The convening sought to establish a collaborative framework for ongoing development and to produce a technical roadmap for AI-enabled policymaking tools. Lauren Wagner, an investor and researcher at the intersection of AI governance and policy, has been a vocal advocate for market-driven approaches to AI governance, emphasizing the need for practical solutions and incentive alignment. This event marks a crucial step in bridging the gap between technological innovation and effective public policy.
