Dissertation
Designing the Future
This page provides key information about Zithri Ahmed Saleem’s doctoral research study, "Designing the Future: Technology, Democracy, and Leadership in US-EU Contexts", conducted as part of the University of Washington’s Ph.D. program in Information Science. It includes general details about the study's objectives and scope. This research project was classified as exempt by the University of Washington Institutional Review Board (IRB) on March 13, 2023. Interested parties can also review the Informed Consent Document developed under UW guidelines.
If you have any questions, the primary investigator, PhD Candidate Zithri Ahmed Saleem, is available to discuss them with you at your request.
Research Focus
New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and biomaterials are reshaping the social and economic landscape. These innovations offer immense potential but also raise questions about fairness, representation, and democracy.
This research examines how technical and non-technical leaders in the United States and Europe understand and navigate the diffusion of these technologies in democratic contexts. It explores the real and potential influence decisions regarding their design, deployment, and governance can have on democratic structures and processes.
Why This Matters
Emergent technologies can both strengthen and destabilize democracy. They can drive economic growth and improve services, but they also pose risks, such as spreading misinformation or exacerbating inequalities. For instance, AI in healthcare offers personalized treatment but may reinforce biases if built on flawed data. Similarly, social media platforms, powered by machine learning, have enhanced communication yet been used to influence elections through misinformation campaigns.
These risks are not hypothetical—they have already played out in critical contexts, from public health systems overwhelmed by biased data models to political polarization intensified by algorithmic content targeting. Without intentional strategies for oversight and participation, technology may further concentrate power, leaving democratic institutions vulnerable to exploitation.
This research investigates how leaders think about and address these tensions, and seeks to produce insights towards using technology to strengthen democratic principles such as accountability, truth, and economic fairness while mitigating harm.
To guide this investigation, the project focuses on four key research areas:
Key Research Areas
Democratic Principles and Technology: How do leaders think about the prioritization of values like participation, fairness, and accountability in technology development?
Challenges and Opportunities: What tensions arise between innovation, governance, and societal impacts, and how do leaders address them?
Global Shifts: How have leaders witnessed the impacts of technological shifts and major events, such as AI's rise and post-COVID-19 changes, in their work?
Diverse Perspectives: What roles do perspectives from underrepresented groups play—or have the potential to play—in shaping the future of technology?
Research Impact
This research is designed to inform both academic discourse and real-world applications. Through partnerships with leaders in industry, policy, and advocacy, the goal is to develop strategies that democratize technology development and its attendant outcomes.
Confidentiality and Participant Rights
Your participation in this research is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without consequence. If you withdraw, any information you provided will be permanently deleted and excluded from the analysis.
All personally identifiable information (PII) will be securely encrypted and stored, accessible only to the research team. Data will be anonymized in reports and publications and destroyed once it has fulfilled its purpose in accordance with University of Washington protocols.
This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Washington Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure adherence to ethical guidelines. The findings will be used for academic purposes, including dissertations, conference presentations, and scholarly publications.