In an exciting development, the Industry-Wide Deliberative Forum convened by Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab is announcing the addition of two new companies — DoorDash and Microsoft — joining the group of technology companies Cohere, Meta, Oracle, and PayPal, advised by the Collective Intelligence Project in a collaborative effort to engage the public in shaping the future of AI agents. 

There is a gap between the development of technology, particularly AI, and the public's understanding of these advancements. This Forum is answering the question: what if the public could be more than just passive users of these technologies, but instead take an active role in shaping their progress? This growing group of technology companies is excited to engage in a collaborative approach to consulting the public on these complex issues. 

The inclusion of DoorDash and Microsoft speaks to the importance of this Forum and of engaging the public on the future of AI agents. "We believe the future of AI agents must be shaped thoughtfully, with meaningful public input. This forum provides an important platform to elevate diverse voices and guide the responsible development of AI that all businesses can benefit from,” said Chris Roberts, Director of Community Policy and Safety, at DoorDash. 

“We’re proud to support and participate in this effort.”

The Industry-Wide Deliberative Forum is set to take place in Fall 2025 and will be conducted on the AI-assisted Stanford Online Deliberation Platform. This Forum is rooted in deliberation, which involves bringing together representative samples of the public, presenting them with options and their associated tradeoffs, and encouraging them to reflect on both this education and their personal experiences. Research has shown that deliberative methods yield more thoughtful feedback for decision-makers, as individuals must consider the complexities of the issues at hand, rather than simply top-of-mind reactions.

“Microsoft is excited to join this cross-industry collaborative effort to better understand public perspectives on how to build the next generation of trustworthy AI systems,” Amanda Craig, Senior Director of Public Policy, Office of Responsible AI, Microsoft. 

The collaboration encourages thoughtful feedback rather than reactive opinions, ensuring that the public’s perspective is both informed and actionable. “Welcoming DoorDash and Microsoft to our collaborative table is an excellent opportunity to broaden the impact of our work,” said James Fishkin, Director of Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab. “This expansion embodies a shared commitment to collectively shaping our future with AI through public consultations that are both representative and thoughtful.”

Media Contact: Alice Siu, Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab

Every September, rising seniors in the Fisher Family Honors Program travel to the nation’s capital for CDDRL’s Honors College. This immersive, week-long program gives students an inside look at the institutions and experts in Washington, D.C. who are shaping global debates and working to advance democracy and development around the world.

Throughout the week, students will examine pressing global issues with experts at the Council on Foreign Relations’ Center on Preventive Action and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, gain insights into international development from scholars at the World Bank, and dive into the challenges and advantages of empowering local democratic activists — particularly in countries hostile to democracy — with speakers at the National Endowment for Democracy, among other exciting site visits. They are also encouraged to use this time to connect with experts related to their thesis question.

CDDRL’s Fisher Family Honors Program brings together undergraduates from diverse fields and methodologies who share a passion for understanding democracy, development, and the rule of law. The program challenges students to carry out original, policy-relevant research on these topics and produce a coherent, eloquently argued, and well-written honors thesis.

This year's Honors College begins on Sunday, September 14. It will be led by Stephen Stedman, Senior Fellow and Director of the Fisher Family Honors Program, and research scholar María Ignacia Curiel, alongside Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy Larry Diamond.