Artificial Intelligence and think tanks:impact on policy analysis

This paper examines the implications of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution on policy analysis. Specifically, the paper presents data from survey and interview analysis with respect to if and how think tanks in the United Kingdom may have been affected by the emergence of generative AI, for example in the form of Bard or Chat GPT. <br/><br/>This original research will shed light on whether the new capabilities that generative AI offers have had, to date, any impact on the breadth and depth by which think tanks understand policy challenges and develop ‘solutions’ to them. It also presents insights into organisational changes that think tanks may have undergone because of the emergence of generative AI and into how think tank leaders may or may not have embraced AI as a new tool to produce high-quality research for the specific type of policy analysis which think tanks undertake. Overall, the research underpinning the paper reveals if and how think tanks’ internal ‘learning culture’ has been affected and which positive and negative consequences think tank staff expect to result from the AI revolution. <br/><br/>The paper concludes, on the basis of the primary data and the growing body of literature, with a discussion on the extent to which AI can support or hinder the establishment and continuation of productive learning cultures within and across think tanks and, perhaps more generally, organisations that are responsible for influencing, deciding, managing and implementing policy. <br/>