A bold idea to replace politicians | César Hidalgo

Disappointment in Democracy?

Global Voter Turnout Trends

• The speaker expresses disappointment with democracy, noting that the median turnout in presidential elections worldwide over the last 30 years is only 67%.

• In Europe, participation in EU parliamentary elections is even lower, with a median turnout of just 42%.

• In New York's recent mayoral election, voter turnout plummeted to 24%, highlighting widespread disengagement.

Public Sentiment Towards Politicians

• The speaker humorously suggests that only characters like Joey and Phoebe from "Friends" would have voted, indicating a general apathy towards political engagement.

• People are fatigued by politicians and the use of personal data for targeted political propaganda.

Vulnerabilities in Democratic Systems

• The concept of targeting individuals with propaganda has historical roots; it exploits democracy's inherent vulnerabilities.

• Delegating power to representatives creates a bottleneck in democracy, making it susceptible to manipulation.

Exploring Alternatives to Traditional Democracy

Direct Democracy: A Naive Solution?

• Direct democracy proposes bypassing politicians for direct voting on issues but faces practical challenges due to the sheer volume of decisions required.

• The U.S. Congress considered over 6,000 bills in one session alone, illustrating the cognitive overload citizens would face if directly involved.

Liquid Democracy: A Complex Alternative

• Liquid or fluid democracy allows individuals to delegate their voting power but does not effectively address cognitive bandwidth issues.

• This model still resembles traditional representation and may not resolve underlying democratic challenges.

The Case for Automating Political Processes

Historical Context of Automation

• The speaker provocatively suggests automating politicians rather than bypassing them entirely.

• Automation began over 300 years ago with innovations like the Jacquard loom, which revolutionized fabric production through mechanization.

Modern Implications of Automation

• Today's automation extends beyond factories; robots are increasingly integrated into various sectors and could influence governance structures.

Rethinking Communication in Democracy

Misconceptions About Democratic Improvement

• Current tools designed for executive decision-making focus on objectivity but overlook legislative needs for debate and deliberation among diverse viewpoints.

Cognitive Bandwidth vs. Communication

The Future of Democracy: Can Software Agents Represent Us?

The Need for New Technologies in Communication

• Current solutions are insufficient to address communication overload; new technologies, like software agents, are needed to assist in managing this burden.

• Software agents can help offload communication tasks and facilitate better decision-making on a larger scale, similar to how we use them for navigation and music selection.

Direct Democracy and Personal Representation

• A revolutionary idea is combining direct democracy with software agents, allowing individuals to have personalized representation that reflects their unique political views.

• Instead of traditional representatives who often embody compromises, citizens could have software agents representing only their interests.

The Concept of Personalized Political Avatars

• Envision a system where each citizen has a digital avatar that reads bills and votes based on individual preferences, potentially creating a senate as large as the population.

• While the concept may seem daunting or frightening, it draws parallels to historical innovations that were once met with skepticism.

Training Your Avatar for Decision-Making

• Users would create avatars by inputting personal data such as reading habits and social media connections, ensuring transparency in how decisions are made.

• An open marketplace for algorithms would allow users to select training methods for their avatars while maintaining control over decision-making processes.

Overcoming Challenges and Building Trust

• Addressing concerns about data security and accessibility is crucial; improving the user interface of democracy could enhance participation rates.

• Critics often focus on potential problems rather than exploring innovative possibilities; it's essential to shift the conversation towards what can be achieved if these systems work effectively.

Imagining a New Legislative Process

• If successful, avatars could not only vote on existing laws but also participate in drafting legislation through algorithmic assistance.

• This approach challenges conventional notions of lawmaking and opens up discussions about the future role of technology in governance.

Starting the Revolution Gradually

• Change won't come from protests or demands but through gradual implementation of simple systems within educational institutions and nonprofits.