Power to shape:
CSO Voices on AI
An initiative, grounded in an open CSO Conversation shaping understanding and co-creating a framework for civil society to more effectively influence how AI is used in delivering public services.
CSOs, Public bodies, and Researchers shared their insights, best practices, and co-created a a shared agenda for action for ethical AI governance.
About the engagement
Online CSO CONVERSATION
3 weeks
Live
CO-CREATION
x2
About the CSO Conversation
Civil society is essential to shaping how AI is governed and used in public services, but its influence remains limited.
This was made clear during the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit. While civil society was present at the Summit, it lacked meaningful power to shape the agenda, highlighting the need for deeper reflection, connection, and collaboration.
Yet CSOs are not starting from scratch. Across sectors and regions, they are raising alarms, supporting communities, and developing alternatives. What’s missing is a space to take stock, share strategies, and build collective momentum.
That’s why we convened a Clever Together Conversation, a voluntary, best-effort initiative to collectively answer the question "How can we – as civil society – better leverage our power to ensure AI in public services is used in just, inclusive and democratic ways?"
Timing: 23 May - 6 June 2025
Beginning with: ACTIVE half-day co-creation session
Power to Shape: CSO Voices on AI contributes to a wider ecosystem of civil society action. It offers space to reflect, learn from one another, and co-create a shared framework and agenda for action, so that AI in public services is more responsive to public needs, and grounded in ethics, equity, and democratic values.
The findings will be shared with the UNESCO's Global CSO and Academic Network on AI Ethics and Policy and other similar initiatives and events.
More importantly, they are shared openly to feed into future work, collaborations, and advocacy efforts across our networks.
And you can use them too!
About the Conveners
This Initiative is spearheaded by a cross-disciplinary team with deep expertise in civil society advocacy, AI policy, and participatory governance. Together, we bring decades of experience working with frontline organisations, influencing AI governance, and designing inclusive, action-oriented research.
We hosted and facilitated the engagement, ensuring a respectful, reflective and inclusive space for diverse CSO voices. We analysed all contributions, identified common themes, and co-authored the resulting outputs.
Lidia Velkova
Managing Director
Clever Together Futureproof
Leda Kuneva
Senior Consultant
Clever Together Futureproof
Anna Colom
Senior Policy Lead
The Data Tank
Marta Poblet
Senior Research Lead
The Data Tank
Tim Davies
Research Director
Connected by Data
About Clever Together's Conversations
The Power to Shape: CSO Voices on AI Conversation took place on Clever Together’s secure, award-winning digital platform, designed for large-scale, inclusive engagement that supports open, impactful collaboration.
Unlike a webinar or survey, this was an active, asynchronous conversation. Participants responded to open-ended questions, read and commented on others’ ideas, and voted on the insights that matter most.
The Conversation was:
ANONYMOUS BY DESIGN: Ideas were shared without names, encouraging honest reflection and reducing bias.
FLEXIBLE: Participants could take part in as little as 15 minutes, or return over time to deepen their contribution.
CIVIL SOCIETY & PUBLIC SECTOR-ONLY: To protect the space, only CSOs, public sector representatives, and academics/ researchers were invited.
HUMAN-FACILITATED: The convening team analysed and curated insights, highlighting shared priorities, successes, and strategies.
The platform was accessible from any device.
