Public Voices in AI

A central aspect of responsible AI is ensuring that it takes account of public hopes, concerns and experiences. As concern about the societal impacts of AI grows and pressure for its effective regulation mounts, understanding and anticipating societal needs and values can inform responsible AI developments and deployments. Yet public voice is frequently missing from conversations about AI, an absence which inhibits progress in RAI. Addressing this gap is essential to enable ‘good AI’ – that is, AI research, development and policy which maximises benefits, prevent harms and ensures that AI works for everyone.

The Satellite project Public Voices in AI put those most impacted and underrepresented front and centre in artificial intelligence research, development and policy.

The project team produced a library of resources that are now available for all to use, including the following toolkits:

• Patel, R. (2025) A Framework and Self Assessment Workbook for Including Public Voices in AI. Elgon Social Research and ESRC Digital Good Network. Available at:  https://elgon.social/framework-and-workbook

The framework explains how to engage people in shaping AI at different stages within a ‘low power’ through to ‘high power’ spectrum. It draws upon the spectrum of public participation developed by the International Association of Public Participation Practitioners (IAP2), and Arnstein’s ladder of citizen participation.

• Mahomed, S., Jayadeva, S., Aitken, M., Thomas, C. A., & Hadjiloizou, S. (2025). Public Voices in AI: Repository of Use Cases Report. The Alan Turing Institute.

A repository sharing details of recent projects that have engaged the public with AI development, policy or research.

• Aitken, M., Mahomed, S. & Jayadeva, S. (2025), Introductory Resources for Public Conversations about AI, The Alan Turing Institute

A set of introductory slides that can be used or adapted to support public conversations about AI.

• Jayadeva, S., Mahomed, S. & Aitken, M. (2025), Public Voices in AI Process Guide: A practical guide to key considerations in the lifecycle of public voice projects, The Alan Turing Institute

For more information please see the Public Voices in AI project page.