Deliberating AI: Building university AI policies through democratic dialogue

As AI reshapes higher education, universities must create policies that balance ethical concerns with the realities of new technology. This presentation examines how the American University in Bulgaria and Central European University used deliberative democratic methods to build AI guidelines and policies through inclusive dialogue among students, faculty, and administrators.

Specifically, as part of the AI Aware Universities project, each institution hosted a series of student-led workshops that discussed ethical dimensions of AI in academia. We will discuss the challenges of navigating institutional power dynamics, managing conflicting interests, and ensuring meaningful participation. Despite distinct challenges that were faced at each institution, our approaches both fostered transparency and collaboration, leading to policy discussions and agreements that supported responsible AI use. By reflecting on our successes and setbacks, we offer insights for other AMICAL institutions seeking to develop AI policies through participatory governance.