AI-Driven Social Dialogue and Systemic Change: How Designers Use Technology to Foster Sustainable Social Innovation

Social dialogue is a crucial mechanism for driving cross-sector collaboration, promoting social innovation, and achieving systemic change. However, traditional models face challenges in efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity, limiting their societal impact. AI-powered platforms are transforming dialogue by optimizing deliberation and expanding public participation. This study employs a multiple case study method to examine how AI facilitates social dialogue, enhances processes, and influences impact. Findings show that AI-driven platforms like Deliberatorium, Pol.is, Decidim, and CityScope improve transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency compared to traditional models such as the “Polder Model” and “Tongxinhuhui”. However, issues related to algorithmic fairness, data privacy, and the digital divide persist. Designers play a crucial role in this transformation, as their role shifts from facilitators of communication to architects of AI-driven social dialogue systems, responsible for guiding, optimizing, and overseeing platforms to ensure algorithmic transparency and inclusivity. Therefore, AI does not serve as a decision-maker in social dialogue but rather as a tool for facilitating dialogue and consensus-building. Future research should further explore adaptive AI-driven dialogue frameworks to address governance challenges while ensuring accessibility, fairness, and interpretability across different social contexts.