Training for data literacy and AI literacy: Developing AI literacy

This sub-guideline is part of the guideline Training for data literacy and AI literacy. Refer to the main guideline for context and an overview.

AI literacy is the ability to understand, critically evaluate and effectively interact with AI technologies. In a parliamentary context, it encompasses knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of AI, as well as an understanding of its potential impacts on legislative processes and democratic governance. Moreover, AI literacy can help parliaments to foster a culture of responsible innovation.

AI literacy is crucial in parliaments because it enables MPs, senior parliamentary managers and staff to make informed choices about AI adoption, shape appropriate policies and regulations, and effectively oversee AI-driven initiatives.

Having a well-trained workforce that is familiar with at least the basic tenets of AI will help parliament to both leverage the opportunities AI presents for enhancing parliamentary functions and mitigate the potential risks that can occur. 

AI literacy training is needed across a range of parliamentary stakeholders. The nature and content of this training will differ depending on their role. A potential outline of training programmes for MPs, decision makers and technical staff is given below.

MPs face a dual challenge: they must understand AI in order to effectively use it and oversee its implementation within parliament, while also grasping its broader implications to inform their legislative work.

A flexible AI literacy programme, tailored to the unique culture of each parliament and the demanding schedules of its MPs, would be a useful way to address this need. A potential structure for such a programme is outlined below:

• AI fundamentals: The programme begins with a clear introduction to the fundamentals of AI, exploring its core concepts and potential applications in legislative work. MPs learn how AI can enhance parliamentary functions, from improving constituent services to streamlining research processes.
• Risks and ethical implications of AI: Since understanding the potential of AI is only half of the equation, the programme also delves into the associated risks and ethical implications, covering topics such as privacy concerns, potential biases and societal impacts.
• AI governance: This section of the programme covers AI governance and its role in risk mitigation. For parliaments with existing AI policies, the programme explains the relevance of these policies to MPs’ daily work. For parliaments that already use AI systems in their legislative processes, the programme offers practical insights into the operation and impact of these systems.
• Ethical principles: Throughout the programme, emphasis is placed on the ethical principles that form the cornerstone of responsible AI use in democratic institutions. MPs explore concepts such as transparency, accountability and the preservation of human autonomy, all of which are crucial for promoting societal well-being in an AI-driven world.

By the end of this programme, MPs are equipped with the knowledge to confidently engage in AI-related policy discussions, make informed decisions about AI adoption in parliamentary processes, and navigate the increasingly AI-influenced landscape of modern governance. This comprehensive yet accessible approach ensures that MPs can harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding democratic values and protecting the public interest.
 

Parliamentary decision makers need a solid understanding of AI in order to guide their institutions effectively. They must equip themselves with essential knowledge about AI and its implications for parliamentary work. A possible structure for a training programme for this audience is given below: 

• AI fundamentals: The training begins with an explanation of the fundamental concepts of AI and its potential applications within parliamentary contexts.
• Governance, opportunities and risks: Decision makers learn how AI can enhance legislative processes and streamline administrative tasks, as well as examining the potential risks of the technology. The programme also looks at how effective AI governance can mitigate these risks and ensure responsible use.
• Broader implications: The programme covers the broader legal, ethical and social implications of AI, covering key concepts such as privacy, transparency, accountability and fairness.
• Limitations of AI: Participants explore the limitations of AI – and of generative AI in particular – to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge needed for realistic implementation.
• AI legislative frameworks and policies: For parliaments with specific AI legislative frameworks or policies, the programme covers the implications of these frameworks or policies for parliamentary AI use cases.

Technical staff involved in AI production and procurement require a comprehensive understanding of AI technologies and their parliamentary context and application. A training programme for these staff could cover several key areas:

• AI fundamentals: The programme begins with an exploration of the history of AI, key concepts, and the role of the technology in governance and legislation. This foundational knowledge helps align AI implementations with parliamentary needs.
• Machine learning and deep learning: Participants explore various learning paradigms, common algorithms and frameworks. Hands-on training with relevant tools provides practical knowledge for developing AI models that address legislative challenges.
• Ethical implications: A significant portion of the programme focuses on the ethical and social aspects of AI. Participants engage in critical discussions about bias, fairness, transparency, and the impact of AI on privacy and human rights. This ethical grounding ensures AI systems uphold democratic principles.
• Governance-specific applications: Through case studies and practical projects, technical staff learn to identify opportunities for enhancing legislative processes with AI. They work on developing AI solutions for real parliamentary challenges, considering both technical feasibility and ethical implications.
• AI tools and resources: The programme introduces a range of AI development tools, platforms and resources. Participants gain experience with AI libraries, application programming interfaces (APIs), data sets and pre-trained models. They also practice creating effective prompts for generative AI tools while adhering to ethical principles.

For parliaments primarily using generative AI, the programme could be adapted to emphasize avoiding inaccuracies, hallucinations and biases in AI outputs. It could also stress the importance of clear guidelines to protect against adversarial prompts and to maintain information security.

By the end of this comprehensive programme, technical staff are well-equipped to lead AI initiatives within their parliaments. They possesses the technical expertise needed to implement AI solutions, the ethical foundation necessary for ensuring responsible use, and the contextual understanding required to align these technologies with parliamentary needs and values.

The Guidelines for AI in parliaments are published by the IPU in collaboration with the Parliamentary Data Science Hub in the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence. It may be freely shared and reused with acknowledgement of the IPU. For more information about the IPU’s work on artificial intelligence, please visit www.ipu.org/AI or contact [email protected].