Institute For The Future

What if software could run for office?

The possibility is not entirely unimaginable. We already have the tools to automatically translate raw data into news stories and to make software act like humans in social networks. What if a program could aggregate constituent opinions to write political speeches, converse with policy groups, and even make a representative vote?

While we may have capability for automated governance, IFTF believes the nuances of the political process are as abundant and meaningful as our technological possibilities. Human thought, judgement, and perception are essential to governing a community, city, and entire country. We imagine a human-centered approach to political innovation—using technology as a tool to make politics more efficient, transparent, and empowering for all.

Our Governance Futures Lab wants to build a platform that will make this possible: App4Gov, a free and open-source suite of online participatory democracy tools that lets users vote on every single decision that a politician makes. Elected officials at all levels could see real-time commentary and questions from constituents, as well as interact with data and information from other open-source platforms. We believe cultural shifts are creating new demands for more direct democracy, while technological advancements are creating new opportunities for a more representative future. App4Gov has a potential place at all levels of governance, from the student council to the Senate.

Watch this demonstration from App4Gov team members David Evan Harris and Bettina Warburg-Johnson during the Governance Futures Lab's ReConstitutional Convention.

Follow @GovFuturesLab to watch for more from App4Gov!