Amplifying democratic voices in the age of AI

Democracy is under pressure. Freedom House and V-Dem document a sustained global decline in political rights, civil liberties, and democratic governance that is accelerating. Civic space is narrowing, public trust is fraying, and institutions are struggling to respond to a faster, more fragmented world.

The organizations that make democracy possible around the globe are being constrained. Civic organizations help people organize, speak, solve problems, build communities, and hold power accountable. Yet the sudden contraction of democracy assistance is forcing many to reduce staff, suspend programs, or close, as the When Aid Fades report details. Funding is tightening just as cross-border collaboration and civic action face growing restrictions.

The information environment rewards manipulation. Authoritarian tactics are not limited to authoritarian governments: any actor can use technology and AI to confuse, divide, or manufacture the appearance of public support. Online spaces are more manipulated than ever, making it harder for credible democratic voices to reach people and earn trust.

The future is ours to shape. We know more than ever about how people participate, how trust is built, how networks create power, and how technology can lower barriers to action. New Democracy Studio brings those insights together with practical experience—generating ideas, convening people who can sharpen them, and testing programs that can help democracy evolve.