Announced at the AI Action Summit in February, in Paris, the Worldwide Alliance for AI & Democracy is now officially launched. This initiative will unite key actors - civil society, academia, NGOs, innovators, and institutions - and drive concrete initiatives to enhance democratic resilience and amplify collective impact.
The AI revolution is unfolding alongside an unprecedented geopolitical crisis, where war, authoritarian influence, and technological dominance threaten the very foundations of democracy. AI is no longer just a tool: it is a weapon that can be used to manipulate public opinion, distort elections, and reshape power dynamics on a global scale. Without strong democratic safeguards, AI will accelerate disinformation, weaken fair competition, and shift governance towards centralized, opaque, and potentially authoritarian control. Conversely, if harnessed correctly, AI can empower citizens, enhance governance, and fortify democratic resilience in the face of growing instability. We are at a pivotal moment: will AI become an instrument of control, or a force for democratic renewal?
Recognizing this urgent threat, Make.org, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Aspen Digital, HEC, and CNNum conducted an extensive study mapping global initiatives that use AI to protect and strengthen democracy. Their findings revealed hundreds of projects dedicated to ensuring AI serves the public good. Among them, the 100 most impactful initiatives were identified, spanning researchers, NGOs, foundations, companies, and public institutions. However, despite this global surge of action, these efforts remain fragmented. Without greater coordination, support, and visibility, they risk failing against the scale of the challenge.
This is why, at the AI Action Summit, Make.org announced the Worldwide Alliance for AI & Democracy and this initiative is officially taking shape today: a global coalition committed to ensuring AI is used to reinforce democracy, rather than dismantle it.
Alicia Combaz and Axel Dauchez, Founders of Make.org: “AI is transforming our world at an unprecedented pace. Without robust democratic safeguards, it risks eroding the principles we hold dear. Conversely, only robust democracies can provide a level playing field for AI innovation. At the AI Action Summit, we aim to forge a historic pact between AI and democracy—one that empowers citizens and strengthens democratic resilience.”
The Worldwide Alliance for AI and Democracy is an independent and neutral groundbreaking coalition bringing together hundreds of key actors from civil society, academia, research institutions, NGOs, foundations, innovators, non-partisan civic movements, and institutions. United by the mission of strengthening democracy amid geopolitical shifts and the rise of AI, members actively contribute by signing the Manifesto: Call for a Worldwide Alliance on AI and Democracy and by leading concrete initiatives to reinforce democratic resilience.
Officially recognized as one of the AI Action Summit's key outcomes (here), the Alliance already connected with 262 potential member organizations from more than 30 countries: 91 universities and research centers, 59 NGOs, 40 foundations, 20 public institutions and 52 private companies.
This Alliance will focus on three main objectives:
The Alliance is designed to support initiatives and amplify the impact of its members' efforts through three key areas of contribution: 1/ Enhancing visibility (labeling, newsletter, annual report), 2/ Maximizing impact (collaboration, expansion, bundling), 3/ Shaping policy (workshops, publications, recommendations on elections, democracy, resilience).
Among some key initiatives of the Alliance:
Contacts: