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Could AI become a force for democracy? 

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As a reporter I cover developments in democracy where the Swiss perspective becomes relevant. I am Swiss and have long been fascinated by the way public discussions shape society.

Big tech companies cooperate closely with the US Trump administration, while China’s AI firm DeepSeek censors certain political topics. But could artificial intelligence (AI) actually contribute to more democracy?

For some AI fans, such as US cyber security expert Bruce Schneier, Switzerland’s open language model Apertus is a reason for hope.

Can open AI models be an alternative to the offerings of the big tech companies, or do they change nothing politically?

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Digital Democracy

Is Swiss AI a powerhouse for democracy?

This content was published on US cyber expert Bruce Schneier has high hopes for a Swiss AI model. Optimism is also growing in Switzerland, but not across the board.

Read more: Is Swiss AI a powerhouse for democracy?

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Pierre Merlin
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

It all depends on how you define the word ‘democracy’. If we say that today’s hyper-individualism is democracy, then no. If we think of the public good, or even the good of humanity as a whole, then yes, without a doubt.____Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, control____On Wed, 18 March 2026 at 7:07, SWI swissinfo.ch__ wrote:__Show truncated content

.Tout dépend du sens qu'on donne au mot démocratie. Si on dit que l'hyperindividualisme actuel est la démocratie, non. Si on pense au bien public, voire au bien de l'humanité entière, oui, sans aucun doute.____Yahoo Mail : Recherchez, organisez, maîtrisez____Le mer., mars 18, 2026 à 7:07, SWI swissinfo.ch__ a écrit:__Afficher le contenu tronqué

Benjamin von Wyl
Benjamin von Wyl SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.
@Pierre Merlin

Good afternoon, Mr Merlin,____“Hyper-individualism” is probably more an expression of a particular set of values within a democratic system. However, the debate – and the accompanying article – is less concerned with that and more with the question of how AI might affect the political system. ____So I would ask in return: what does democracy mean to you?

Guten Tag Herr Merlin,____"Hyperindividualismus" ist wohl eher Ausdruck einer bestimmten Wertehaltung innerhalb eines demokratischen Systems. Die Debatte, wie auch der zugehörige Artikel, befasst sich ja aber weniger damit, sondern mit der Frage, wie sich KI auf das politische System auswirken könnte. ____Entsprechend frage ich zurück: Was ist denn Demokratie für Sie

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR