The IPU has published two new resources to help parliaments unlock the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their efficiency, effectiveness and productivity while mitigating the risks of this rapidly evolving technology.
The Guidelines for AI in parliament offer a comprehensive framework for parliaments to understand and implement AI responsibly and effectively.
They provide practical guidance on the importance of a strategic approach, strong governance, ethical considerations and risk management. The Guidelines underscore the importance of using AI to augment and enhance human capability rather than replace it, especially in democratic deliberation and decision-making.
The Guidelines cover several key areas, including the potential role of AI in parliaments, the related risks and challenges, suggested governance structures and AI strategy, ethical principles and risk management, training and capacity-building, and how to manage a portfolio of AI projects across parliament.
Key recommendations include:
- Start with small pilot projects to build experience
- Focus on use cases with clear benefits and manageable risks
- Ensure robust human oversight of AI systems
- Prioritize transparency and accountability
- Invest in data and AI literacy across the organization
- Engage with diverse stakeholders throughout the process
The Guidelines are complemented by a series of Use cases for AI in parliaments, which offer potential roadmaps for parliamentary AI adoption.
A “use case” describes how a system should work. It is used to plan, develop and measure implementation. Use cases translate the abstract potential of AI into practical applications for parliamentary operations.
The use cases cover how to use AI tools to support bill drafting and amendments, to improve the production of verbatim reports or subtitles for video content, and to support public engagement, particularly the analysis of large volumes of public submissions, as well as cybersecurity AI tools that support the development of secure parliamentary systems.
The new resources were published by the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament in partnership with the Parliamentary Data Science Hub.
They follow the adoption of a landmark resolution on The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on democracy, human rights and the rule of law by IPU Member Parliaments at the 149th IPU Assembly in Geneva in October 2024.
The resolution, among other things, urges parliaments worldwide to swiftly develop and implement robust legal frameworks and policies for the responsible creation, deployment and use of AI technology.
It calls on parliaments to stay ahead of the curve in regulating AI, striking a balance between innovation and the protection of fundamental rights.
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The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
For more information about the IPU, contact Thomas Fitzsimons at [email protected]
