Building common ground for the common good.

Dear Subscriber First Name,

What kind of democratic future do we want to build with AI—and how do we move toward it? In a moment when technology often feels imposed rather than inviting, reclaiming our role as co-creators of the future is both urgent and needed. Futurism, in this sense, isn’t about prediction—it’s about intention. What if AI were designed not to dominate our choices or optimize for profit, but to strengthen democratic values: equity, accountability, participation, and care?

At Common Good AI, we believe that shaping the future starts with expanding who gets to imagine it—and how. We need civic spaces where people can think long-term, deliberate across differences, and build new infrastructures with trust. 

In this issue, we highlight three visions of that future already taking shape: a panel on generative collective intelligence as a model for human–AI collaboration; a storytelling video that reimagines daily civic life with the help of AI; and a blueprint for prosocial tech governance grounded in inclusion and mutual responsibility. Together, these pieces move us from critique to creation—laying the groundwork for democratic technologies that serve the common good.

We are exploring how digital tools support collective problem-solving. If you’re thinking about how to apply these tools, we’d be glad to connect. You can reach us at info@commongoodai.org 

All the best,

Victoria Stanski, Managing Director

With Founders, John Seely Brown, John Clippinger, John Cordier, Tom Kehler, and Kim Polese

Event: Generative Collective Intelligence panel at Human + AI Summit

The Human + AI Tech Week was held 14-20 June 2025 in San Francisco and convened leaders to explore the intersection of human wellness, AI, and future potential. Common Good AI founders Kim Polese and Tom Kehler spoke at events, including a panel of experts featuring Alex Pentland (Stanford + MIT), Scott Page (University of Michigan), and Martin Reeves (BCG Henderson Institute). They discussed the urgent need for a new AI framework centred on human-AI collaboration—one that amplifies the distinct strengths of both human insight and machine learning. 

They spoke about the idea of Generative Collective Intelligence as a guiding concept: a vision of AI not as a substitute for human thinking, but as a partner in enabling diverse groups to reason together, solve complex problems, and make more inclusive, adaptive decisions for the future.

Video: Citizen engagement with democracy in 2040

Imagine spending just 10 minutes of your morning routine with an AI agent designed not to sell you something—but to connect you to the democratic life of your community. In a compelling story-driven presentation, Gideon Lichfield paints a near-future scenario where AI seamlessly supports civic participation: helping you review local policy proposals, understand legislative debates, navigate public services, and contribute to local decisions—all before you’ve finished your coffee.

Drawing on real innovations already underway in government service delivery, legislative workflows, public media, and digital civic spaces, the article and video shows how close we are to transforming everyday moments into acts of democratic engagement. Watch to see what’s possible when AI is designed not just to serve individuals—but to serve the public good.

 Report: Blueprint on prosocial tech design governance

What if the future of technology wasn’t built on surveillance, extraction, or polarization—but on empathy, equity, and mutual responsibility? The Blueprint on Prosocial Tech Design Governance, by Lisa Schirch for the Council on Technology and Social Cohesion, Peacetech and Polarization Lab at University of Notre Dame and published by the Toda Peace Institute, offers a practical framework for building that future.

It calls on designers, technologists, and policymakers to centre human wellbeing and social cohesion at every stage of the tech development process—from values-driven design principles to inclusive governance models. Rather than treating harm as inevitable, the report envisions a future where platforms are intentionally shaped to foster trust, cooperation, and civic resilience. It’s not just a critique of what’s wrong—it’s a guide to what’s next.