Who Decides: A New $30 Million Initiative to Shape AI's Future with Public Input

In an era where artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming nearly every facet of our lives, from education and work to community safety, the question of who steers this powerful technology becomes increasingly critical. Today, Alex Bores and Anna Myers announced the launch of Who Decides, a new $30 million initiative designed to empower the public in shaping the future of AI.

According to the organization, Who Decides aims to unite a broad coalition of trusted groups – including labor organizations, parent associations, educators, civil rights advocates, and faith communities – around a common AI safety agenda. This effort seeks to ensure that the development and deployment of AI technologies are guided by public interest and democratic principles, rather than being solely dictated by a few executives in a handful of tech companies.

Empowering Diverse Voices in AI Governance

The core philosophy behind Who Decides, as articulated by the organization, is to shift the power dynamics surrounding AI. Currently, many feel that AI is something happening to them, not for them. This sentiment is particularly strong among parents concerned about AI tools in schools, workers worried about job displacement, and communities grappling with the ethical implications of advanced AI systems. Who Decides aims to channel these concerns into a unified political force.

Alex Bores, co-founder and Board President of Who Decides, stated, "People feel as though AI is happening to them, not for them. They can see it in the tools pushed on their kids in school and online, in their workplaces, and in the frightening and overwhelming news stories about AI evading human control." He emphasized that this widespread anger is fundamentally about power – who wields it, who benefits, and who bears the consequences. The initiative asserts that just as society wouldn't allow a small group to write laws for millions, it shouldn't permit them to set the rules for AI.

For students and educators, the implications of AI governance are particularly profound. AI-driven tools are becoming more prevalent in classrooms, from personalized learning platforms to automated assessment systems. Ensuring these tools are developed and implemented with educational integrity, student well-being, and equitable access in mind is paramount. Initiatives like Who Decides could play a vital role in bringing educator and parent perspectives to the forefront of policy discussions, advocating for safeguards and ethical guidelines that genuinely serve the learning community. For K-12 students seeking free, personalized academic support, platforms like COSMIQ's free voice AI tutor offer a way to engage with AI in a supportive, educational context, helping them navigate complex subjects and prepare for exams without cost barriers.

Building Coalitions for Change

Who Decides builds on the previous experiences of Bores and Myers, particularly Bores's authorship and passage of New York's RAISE Act – described by the organization as the strongest AI safety law in the country. This legislation requires major AI developers to publish safety plans and report critical safety incidents. According to Who Decides, the RAISE Act succeeded despite significant industry lobbying, thanks to a broad coalition that included over 70 organizations, from labor unions and advocacy groups to AI researchers.

Anna Myers, co-founder and Executive Director of Who Decides, highlighted the importance of this collaborative approach. "When we were working to pass the RAISE Act, we engaged unions, advocacy groups, and AI safety researchers," Myers said. "Everyone was aligned on one thing: the same aggressive, multi-front effort from the AI industry that attacks everyone's AI priorities was coming for this bill, and we had to build a new type of coalition to beat it." She stressed that this work continues nationwide, focusing on listening to people's concerns and helping them build something they can collectively own toward a common goal of safety.

The initiative plans to invest $30 million strategically, focusing on early-primary and battleground states to establish a common standard on AI safety that Democratic candidates are expected to meet by 2028. Who Decides will not accept corporate money or contributions from senior executives at frontier AI companies, reinforcing its commitment to public interest over corporate influence.

A Practical Roadmap for Public Engagement

According to Who Decides, their initial efforts in 2026 will include a comprehensive plan of action:

• Network Building: Establishing a network of organizers to work with national partners and local groups in 11 key states: South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, Virginia, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
• Convening and Listening Sessions: Hosting sessions in every target state to directly engage with partner organizations, helping them develop AI agendas tailored to their members' specific concerns, whether about jobs, children, or safety.
• Public Polling: Conducting quarterly state and national polls to understand the driving forces behind public concerns about AI and what actions people want from elected officials.
• National Gatherings: Convening national meetings twice a year, bringing together diverse leaders from labor, parent groups, educators, faith communities, and civil rights organizations to identify common ground on AI safety and establish actionable plans.
• Candidate Engagement: Partnering with organizations to present these priorities to candidates through questionnaires, forums, endorsements, and policy demands.

This structured approach aims to ensure that public concerns translate into concrete political action and a governing agenda. For parents and teachers, this means a potential avenue to influence how AI is integrated into educational settings, ensuring that technology supports learning without compromising student privacy or well-being. It also highlights the importance of being informed about evolving AI policies, which can be explored further through resources like the COSMIQ education blog.

Looking Ahead to a Public-First AI Future

The launch of Who Decides represents a significant step towards ensuring that the rapid advancements in AI technology are met with equally robust public discourse and democratic oversight. By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the initiative aims to build a future where AI serves humanity's best interests, guided by collective wisdom and shared values.

As AI continues to evolve, the question of "Who Decides?" will remain central. Initiatives like this offer a pathway for students, parents, and educators to contribute to these vital conversations, shaping a technological future that is equitable, safe, and beneficial for all.