Arantzazulab’s ‘Challenge Week’ explores the intersection between democracy and artificial intelligence

From 16 to 20 February, 60 students from the University of the Basque Country (EHU), Mondragon Unibertsitatea and Huron University in Canada worked on democracy and artificial intelligence with Arantzazulab at Gandiaga Topagunea.

‘Challenge Week’: deepening democratic culture through youth engagement -impact figures

The Arantzazulab Challenge Week is an immersive learning experience focused on innovation in democracy, creativity, and design. Students from different disciplines are invited to spend a week in Arantzazu working together to respond to the challenge we have set them. The aim of this programme is to engage new generations in the social challenge that our laboratory is addressing (innovation in democracy, deepening democratic culture and transforming governance), to gather their views and to involve them in our initiatives.

‘Challenge Week’ forms part of one of Arantzazulab’s strategic pillars as a laboratory for democracy innovation: deepening democratic culture and developing capabilities. On the one hand, the lab works to promote citizens’ participation and engagement in democracy and politics — fostering interest, sparking curiosity and broadening opportunities for meaningful participation, among other actions. On the other hand, it seeks to strengthen citizens’ capacities to influence the democratic system; in other words, to facilitate spaces and initiatives that enable people to participate actively and effectively in democratic life. It is within this framework that ‘Challenge Week’ is situated.

As for this year’s figures, a total of 60 students were at the heart of the initiative; 10 lecturers and coordinators were involved in facilitation and presentations; a team of four Arantzazulab facilitators supported the students; the communications team gathered testimonies and documented impact; representatives of partner organisations shared their experiences; and many others ensured that everything ran smoothly during the stay (catering services, the management team at Gandiaga Topagunea, accommodation providers and restaurants in Arantzazu, among others). In total, around 100 people were involved in this innovative project to deepen democratic culture. No small achievement.

The programme also generates another significant impact: it offers students and teaching staff the opportunity to engage closely with our culture, to experience first-hand the history and values of Arantzazu during their stay, and to visit public and cooperative collaboration initiatives in our region (this year, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and Mondragon Corporation). We believe that engaging with local culture and values is an essential part of ‘Challenge Week’, enriching the perspective with which young participants develop their proposals.

This year’s theme: Democracy and Artificial Intelligence

The interaction between democracy and artificial intelligence raises numerous challenges. Artificial intelligence has the potential to contribute to democratic innovation, for example by strengthening hybrid models that combine artificial and collective intelligence, supported by ethical and governance frameworks that place innovation at the service of the common good.

Likewise, artificial intelligence can be linked to a digitalised public sphere, using AI-based platforms and technologies to broaden deliberation and promote more inclusive civic and deliberative participation.

All of this highlights the importance of nurturing democratic culture and competences in the digital age, through tools that foster learning and critical thinking, as well as the need to incorporate young people’s knowledge and perspectives into decision-making processes.

Finally, it is clear that robust governance structures are required — involving both the public and private sectors — to ensure that the development, use and ownership of technology are legitimate, transparent and responsible, and oriented towards the common good.

Exploring the theme in depth

As they immersed themselves in the challenge, students began reflecting on the relationship between artificial intelligence and democracy, emphasising issues such as transparency, regulation, equality of access to resources and education, concentration of power and the protection of freedom of expression.

The diversity of students’ backgrounds brought forward different experiences and perspectives from various countries and cultural contexts. They first highlighted the need to define what we mean by artificial intelligence and democracy in order to examine how the two can be aligned.

They considered the role of the state to be fundamental, both in terms of regulation and in ensuring responsibility and transparency from the private sector, as well as in overcoming technological, linguistic and cultural barriers that may hinder citizen participation.

Ultimately, they proposed understanding artificial intelligence as a tool integrated within the democratic system, serving to amplify citizens’ voice and power in the public sphere.

Expert inspiration

After delving into the challenge, the topic was explored further with contributions from experts from Arantzazulab, Huron University, Mondragon Unibertsitatea and the University of the Basque Country (EHU).

Arantzazulab’s Director of Projects, Ione Ardaiz, opened a reflection on the contribution that can be made from a small country, viewing democracy as an unfinished and constantly evolving process, shaped by a crisis of intermediation. Drawing on values from Basque culture such as *auzolan* (community work) and collaborative governance, she emphasised the need to reinvent practices that build common ground and foster deliberation and shared responsibility in today’s context. She proposed three main pillars: deepening democracy, strengthening community and promoting competitiveness oriented towards wellbeing.

Reference was also made to the 2023 research project ‘Conceptions of democracy in the Basque Country’: while there is strong support for democracy, dissatisfaction with how it functions is evident. The representative system is accepted, yet there is a clear demand for innovation and meaningful participation — participation with real impact, value-based legitimacy and recognition of citizens’ agency

From Huron University in Canada, Professor Kate Graham and Professors Neil Bradford and Jesse Helmer presented Canada’s decentralised governance model — in a country marked by significant territorial and cultural diversity (provinces, regional governments and numerous Indigenous governments) — where safeguarding the identity of each community lies at the heart of governance. Although Canada is often portrayed as a functioning plural society, they also highlighted political and identity tensions, particularly in light of international dynamics and internal movements.

The tradition of Quebec’s social economy (cooperativism and shared governance) was also presented as an example of innovation in governance models linked to economic democracy, offering an alternative to neoliberalism. Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the recognition of their rights — particularly in Vancouver and in the implementation of the UN Declaration — were also discussed as examples of emerging governance models.

Egoitz de La Iglesia, technology expert and researcher at Mondragon Unibertsitatea, focused on the complex relationship between technology and human beings: the blending of the two, the blurring of boundaries and the naturalisation and anthropomorphisation of generative artificial intelligence. He stressed that technology, development and data are not neutral but socially and subjectively constructed; interpretation and democratic values are therefore essential. He also underlined the ethical dimension of design and development, and the need for human agency and democratic values to underpin decision-making.

Itziar Alkorta, bioethics expert and lecturer and researcher in Civil Law at the University of the Basque Country, reflected on European regulation of artificial intelligence, highlighting key tensions: the European Union’s difficulty in enforcing legislation amid competitive pressure from other countries, particularly China. She outlined the evolution of regulation: initially focused narrowly on technology and “high-risk AI” cases (which accounted for only around 5% of systems), later broadened to incorporate human rights and ethical principles (harm prevention, autonomy, trust and bioethical principles). She explained the EU categories of prohibited, high-risk and low-risk AI. The aim is to advance towards “human-centred AI”, although competitive and regulatory tensions create a complex reality in Europe.

In addition to the lectures, students learned about the Mondragon Group’s experience of organisational democracy and the collaborative governance strategy of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, presented by its Director of Strategy, Iosu Arraiz.

Ten proposals to align democracy and artificial intelligence

Students developed ten projects with diverse approaches: some focused on fostering knowledge and awareness of artificial intelligence; others proposed mechanisms to ensure citizen participation in its regulation; and a third group put forward ways of strengthening democracy through AI.

Two projects received special mention. One proposed an AI-based tool to help newcomers understand and engage with the local political system. The other put forward a system using AI to connect citizens’ needs with government dleraninfecision-making.

‘Challenge Week’ concluded with two major innovations: new relationships between students from different cultures, and fresh ideas about the potential of artificial intelligence to strengthen democracy.