Computing & IT
Democratizing AI
by Annette Zimmermann
Description
Democratizing AI offers a powerful rethinking of how artificial intelligence should be governed. Challenging the dominance of tech elites in shaping AI's future, Zimmermann argues that AI deployment is a political act-one that must be subject to democratic control. She proposes a practical "playbook" for reclaiming agenda-setting power through civic participation, public ownership, and institutional reform. Engaging with leading critics, Zimmermann defends a risk-sensitive proceduralist approach while acknowledging the deeper structural challenges posed by capitalism, inequality, and democratic fatigue. This book is a call to action: to resist learned helplessness, confront techno-authoritarianism, and shape AI's trajectory in line with democratic values. Thoughtful, urgent, and visionary, the book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of technology and democracy.
More Information
Rights Information
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo [DRC], Congo, Republic of the, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hongkong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, China, Macedonia [FYROM], Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Cyprus, Palestine, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Liechtenstein, Azerbaijan, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Dominican Republic, Myanmar, Monaco
Endorsements
Democratizing AI offers a bold and timely intervention into one of the most urgent challenges of our time: how to govern artificial intelligence in a way that upholds democratic legitimacy. The lead essayist, Annette Zimmermann, argues that AI deployment is not merely a technical or economic matter - it is a political act that shapes our collective future. Yet today, decisions about AI are made by a small group of powerful tech elites, while the risks are widely dispersed across society. Zimmermann identifies this imbalance as a democratic legitimacy deficit and proposes a radical yet pragmatic "playbook" for reclaiming public control. Her strategy combines top-down regulation with bottom-up civic participation, empowering informed sub-constituencies, strengthening tech worker unions, and investing in publicly owned open-source AI. Engaging with critiques from leading scholars, Zimmermann defends her risk-sensitive moderate proceduralism while acknowledging the need for broader structural reforms. This book is not just a philosophical treatise - it is a call to action. It challenges readers to resist learned helplessness and to reimagine AI governance as a site of democratic renewal. Whether you are a policymaker, technologist, activist, or citizen, Democratizing AI invites you to help shape a future in which technology serves the many, not the few.
Reviews
Democratizing AI offers a bold and timely intervention into one of the most urgent challenges of our time: how to govern artificial intelligence in a way that upholds democratic legitimacy. The lead essayist, Annette Zimmermann, argues that AI deployment is not merely a technical or economic matter - it is a political act that shapes our collective future. Yet today, decisions about AI are made by a small group of powerful tech elites, while the risks are widely dispersed across society. Zimmermann identifies this imbalance as a democratic legitimacy deficit and proposes a radical yet pragmatic "playbook" for reclaiming public control. Her strategy combines top-down regulation with bottom-up civic participation, empowering informed sub-constituencies, strengthening tech worker unions, and investing in publicly owned open-source AI. Engaging with critiques from leading scholars, Zimmermann defends her risk-sensitive moderate proceduralism while acknowledging the need for broader structural reforms. This book is not just a philosophical treatise - it is a call to action. It challenges readers to resist learned helplessness and to reimagine AI governance as a site of democratic renewal. Whether you are a policymaker, technologist, activist, or citizen, Democratizing AI invites you to help shape a future in which technology serves the many, not the few.
Author Biography
Annette Zimmermann is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and an Affiliate Professor of Statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and co-leads UW-Madison's Uncertainty & AI research group.
Trusted Partner
Manchester University Press
Manchester University Press is a leading UK publisher known for excellent research in the humanities and social sciences.
View all titlesBibliographic Information
- Publisher Manchester University Press
- Publication Date May 2026
- Orginal LanguageEnglish
- ISBN/Identifier 9781526183613 / 1526183617
- Publication Country or regionUnited Kingdom
- FormatPrint PDF
- Pages264
- ReadershipGeneral/trade; College/higher education; Professional and scholarly
- Publish StatusPublished
- Dimensions234 X 156 mm
- Biblio NotesDerived from Proprietary 6381
- SeriesCritical Powers
- Reference Code17029
Thank you for proceeding with this offer.
Manchester University Press has chosen to review this offer before it proceeds.
You will receive an email update that will bring you back to complete the process.
You can also check the status in the My Offers area
Manchester University Press has chosen to review this offer before it proceeds.
You will receive an email update that will bring you back to complete the process.
You can also check the status in the My Offers area
Please wait while the payment is being prepared.
Do not close this window.
(c) Copyright 2025 - Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH. All Right Reserved