Al and Public Policies Workshop II

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to generate uncertainty. Citizens largely remain reactive, constantly trying to adapt to the pace of technological change. The primary focus has been on understanding AI and assessing its social impact in order to mitigate risks, while less attention has been given to exploring how AI can be leveraged for the public good. By the time such strategies are developed, AI has often already advanced further, weakening some solutions and in certain cases rendering them obsolete.

This workshop aims to bring together situated experiences from diverse contexts, highlighting the different stages of progress in integrating AI into public policy. It seeks to better understand the challenges civil society faces in engaging with AI, and to explore what strategies could strengthen its capacity to exercise effective democratic oversight.

Over two days, the debate will be organized around key questions:

• What role do civil society organizations play in shaping AI governance and ethical standards, and how do they influence policies to ensure AI aligns with development goals and democratic values?

• Which issues or priority areas are emerging for government agencies, and which for civil society, in response to the spread of AI across the region?

• How are governments working to guarantee equitable access to the benefits of AI and to prevent these technologies from deepening existing inequalities or digital divides?

• What challenges does civil society encounter when interacting with AI, and what strategies could enhance its ability to exercise more effective democratic control?

This workshop is organized by the Programa Ciencia y Justicia (CONICET), the Núcleo de Estudios Socioculturales sobre el Derecho y sus Instituciones (EIDAES UNSAM), the Centro de Estudios de la Sociedad Digital (EIDAES UNSAM) and is sponsored by Engage Al.