Claiming Inclusivity: Modes of Participation and Representation in AI Governance

Global calls toward inclusive AI envisage a future where citizens enjoy greater political agency over the ideation, design, deployment, and regulation of AI. In practice however, governance initiatives tend to favour the interests of Big Tech and/or dominant (global) majorities, precluding the choice and voice of underrepresented or otherwise marginalised communities. Through an analysis of three distinct modes of participation and representation (legal consultation mechanisms, co-design strategies and digital twins), this project articulates under what conditions decision-making structures foster political equality alongside the AI-value chain. These results will populate a typology that details the merits and limitations of AI governance models. In so doing, the project enables AI stakeholders to critically assess inclusivity-claims made as part of governance initiatives, and it help structure future efforts to render AI governance more inclusive.