Topic: Decision-making in the face of uncertainty — the role of AI-futures within the Swedish Parliament

Speaker: Frans af Malmborg, PhD Student in public administration at the University of Agder, researching Artificial Intelligence from a public policy perspective.

Moderator: Stefan Larsson, Associate Professor at department of technology and society, LTH, Lund University.

When: 9 November at 12-13.15.

Where: Online

Spoken language: English

Abstract

The fundamental uncertainty of late-modern societies poses issues for political actors to navigate turbulent political environments. Since “rational” decision-making rests on the notion that actors can predict outcomes of certain processes, how does decision-makers form expectations, political goals and coordinate action in areas which are fundamentally uncertain such as within technological development? This paper explores the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) and examines how contemporary political discourse form future-oriented expectations towards AI, which in effect guides political decision-making. The paper illustrates this through analysing

1. how the concept of AI is constructed in terms of future-oriented risks and opportunities,
2. what political actions are suggested,
3. and how such actions are legitimised.

The paper draws on 115 reports and opinions published in the Swedish parliament, spanning a variety of policy areas. The article aims to assess how future-oriented expectations on technological development inform policymaking, contributing the literature on decision-making in the face of uncertainty.

The presentation is based on ongoing work from his third article in his PhD thesis.