2024 promises to be a momentous year for democracy—locally, nationally, and globally. Over 4 billion people are living in countries with major elections this year. In the United States, we will also face familiar but obstinate challenges, including the dearth of local news and youth disaffection with voting and institutions. We will also face challenges that are new in this digital era, namely disinformation turbocharged by generative AI that has enormous power to deceive voters, undermine trust, and destabilize our information ecosystems.
While the potential threats to California’s democracy are enormous, many promising steps are being taken—to innovate, strengthen, and rebuild trust in our democratic institutions so that we can better adapt to new realities. Join us to learn from a group of leaders focusing on three promising innovations to strengthen democracy in California relating to youth civic engagement, disinformation and artificial intelligence, and new models of local journalism to generate more informed and engaged electorates.