AI Future Envisioning with PLACARD

TL;DR

This paper describes a participatory Futures Studies approach to envisioning the future of AI, using interactive techniques like card games and collaborative reviews to gather diverse perspectives.

Contribution

It introduces a structured, interactive focus group methodology for AI future envisioning, building on lessons from six prior iterations.

Findings

Engaged diverse participants in AI future envisioning.

Developed a collaborative Project Action Review process.

Captured insights on AI's potential trajectories.

Abstract

At EuroPLoP 2024 Mary Tedeschi led the "AI Future Envisioning with PLACARD" focus group in Germany. Three conference attendees joined in the room while Sridevi, Paola, and Charles co-facilitated remotely via a web conference. The participants were introduced to a Futures Studies technique with the goal of capturing envisionments of Artificial Intelligence (AI) going forward. To set an atmosphere a technology focused card game was used to make the session more interactive. To close everyone co-created a Project Action Review to recap of the event to capture learnings that has been summarized in this paper. The Focus Group was structured based on lessons learned over six earlier iterations.