AI meets participation: What we’ve learned - & what’s coming next
At CollectiveUP, we’ve been asking one big question: Can AI make participatory decision-making better, faster, and more inclusive - without losing the human touch?
After months of digging into the latest tech, testing tools, and comparing use cases from civic tech to urban planning, we have some answers. And even more questions worth exploring.
🔍 In two new research reports for the CONIFER project (and a third coming soon - this one will be public), we explored:
- How Generative AI can help communities imagine future cities, not just analyze them.
- Why Conversational Swarm Intelligence might be the next leap for large-group consensus.
- What works — and what doesn’t — when AI joins the table in participatory foresight.
- How to spot bias, benchmark tools, and stay ethical — especially when working with young people.
Here’s what’s clear:
AI is no silver bullet. But used right, it can amplify human creativity, make sense of complexity, and unlock new ways to design better futures together.
📥 What’s next?
Next month, we’ll release our Key Findings Report, including frameworks, tools, and tested ideas ready to plug into your work — whether you're redesigning cities, shaping policy, or building community platforms.
🧠 Curious how this fits your strategy or project?
Let’s chat. We help organisations use tech to deepen participation, not replace it. And we’re just getting started.
👉 Get in touch via email (info @ collectiveup.be) or follow us to stay updated. #AIforGood #CivicTech #StrategicForesight #Participation #CollectiveIntelligence #DigitalDemocracy #FutureCities #CollectiveUP
