Helen Margetts
@helenmargetts.bsky.social
Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford and the Alan Turing Institute, trying to make sense of governance and democracy in a digital world #public policy #digital government #data science #AI #democracy #behavioural science
Pinned
Helen Margetts
@helenmargetts.bsky.social
· Sep 29
Why AI needs social science | British Politics and Policy at LSE
AI is about humans, that's why it needs to be shaped not just by computer science, but by social science.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
AI needs social science. Cosmina Dorobantu and I explain why in a new blog post @lsedatascience.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Reposted by Helen Margetts
AI needs social science. Cosmina Dorobantu and I explain why in a new blog post @lsedatascience.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Why AI needs social science | British Politics and Policy at LSE
AI is about humans, that's why it needs to be shaped not just by computer science, but by social science.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
AI needs social science. Cosmina Dorobantu and I explain why in a new blog post @lsedatascience.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Reposted by Helen Margetts
"The risk of inequity is always there, wherever you've got AI"
Anya Pearson asks @helenmargetts.bsky.social, Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, about digital government and the opportunities and challenges of AI.
Anya Pearson asks @helenmargetts.bsky.social, Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, about digital government and the opportunities and challenges of AI.
"The Risk of Inequity is Always There, Wherever You've Got AI": Interview with Helen Margetts
Anya Pearson interviews Helen Margetts on the relationship between digital technology and government, politics and public policy.
politicalquarterly.org.uk
October 3, 2025 at 9:26 AM
"The risk of inequity is always there, wherever you've got AI"
Anya Pearson asks @helenmargetts.bsky.social, Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, about digital government and the opportunities and challenges of AI.
Anya Pearson asks @helenmargetts.bsky.social, Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, about digital government and the opportunities and challenges of AI.
AI needs social science. Cosmina Dorobantu and I explain why in a new blog post @lsedatascience.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Why AI needs social science | British Politics and Policy at LSE
AI is about humans, that's why it needs to be shaped not just by computer science, but by social science.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
AI needs social science. Cosmina Dorobantu and I explain why in a new blog post @lsedatascience.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
What can AI do for policy making and public services? Cosmina Dorobantu and I @oii.ox.ac.uk forward key possibilities in this new blog - great to be at the Labour Party Conference to discuss @lsedatascience.bsky.social @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/08/arti...
'From passports to policymaking: where AI can boost the public sector' - LabourList
The public sector in the UK employs almost six million people. The sheer size means that, in theory, the scope for benefits from AI-driven innovation is huge.
labourlist.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
What can AI do for policy making and public services? Cosmina Dorobantu and I @oii.ox.ac.uk forward key possibilities in this new blog - great to be at the Labour Party Conference to discuss @lsedatascience.bsky.social @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/08/arti...
Reposted by Helen Margetts
Reposted by Helen Margetts
New paper alert! ‘The levers of political persuasion with conversational AI’, lead author @kobihackenburg.bsky.social co-author @helenmargetts.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk @socsci.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk.
Today (w/ @ox.ac.uk @stanford @MIT @LSE) we’re sharing the results of the largest AI persuasion experiments to date: 76k participants, 19 LLMs, 707 political issues.
We examine “levers” of AI persuasion: model scale, post-training, prompting, personalization, & more!
🧵:
We examine “levers” of AI persuasion: model scale, post-training, prompting, personalization, & more!
🧵:
July 22, 2025 at 9:39 AM
New paper alert! ‘The levers of political persuasion with conversational AI’, lead author @kobihackenburg.bsky.social co-author @helenmargetts.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk @socsci.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk.
I am so proud of the brilliant @oii.ox.ac.uk DPhil @kobihackenburg.bsky.social and this wonderful “bees-knees” paper on conversational AI and political persuasion @AISecurityInst - it is a “must-read”, comments welcome!
Today (w/ @ox.ac.uk @stanford @MIT @LSE) we’re sharing the results of the largest AI persuasion experiments to date: 76k participants, 19 LLMs, 707 political issues.
We examine “levers” of AI persuasion: model scale, post-training, prompting, personalization, & more!
🧵:
We examine “levers” of AI persuasion: model scale, post-training, prompting, personalization, & more!
🧵:
July 22, 2025 at 7:54 AM
I am so proud of the brilliant @oii.ox.ac.uk DPhil @kobihackenburg.bsky.social and this wonderful “bees-knees” paper on conversational AI and political persuasion @AISecurityInst - it is a “must-read”, comments welcome!
Reposted by Helen Margetts
Earlier today, we hosted Danielle Allen, @helenmargetts.bsky.social and @ciaranm.bsky.social to discuss how AI could affect democracy.
Watch a recording of the event 👇
Watch a recording of the event 👇
AI and democracy
Artificial intelligence (AI) is predicted to transform many aspects of our lives in the coming years. One of these is the functioning of the democratic syste...
www.youtube.com
May 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Earlier today, we hosted Danielle Allen, @helenmargetts.bsky.social and @ciaranm.bsky.social to discuss how AI could affect democracy.
Watch a recording of the event 👇
Watch a recording of the event 👇
Reposted by Helen Margetts
Those big, beautiful eyes! A tiny owl braving the winter snow, perfectly camouflaged in its snowy perch. Nature's little marvel.
📸 mon_regard_sur_la_nature
📸 mon_regard_sur_la_nature
May 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Those big, beautiful eyes! A tiny owl braving the winter snow, perfectly camouflaged in its snowy perch. Nature's little marvel.
📸 mon_regard_sur_la_nature
📸 mon_regard_sur_la_nature
Reposted by Helen Margetts
How could AI affect democracy? Are there opportunities as well as dangers? And how should policy-makers respond?
On 15 May, our star-studded panel made up of Danielle Allen, @helenmargetts.bsky.social and @ciaranm.bsky.social will discuss just this.
Sign up for this free, online event 👇
On 15 May, our star-studded panel made up of Danielle Allen, @helenmargetts.bsky.social and @ciaranm.bsky.social will discuss just this.
Sign up for this free, online event 👇
AI and democracy
An expert panel discusses how the rise of artificial intelligence could change democracy in the coming years.
www.ucl.ac.uk
May 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
How could AI affect democracy? Are there opportunities as well as dangers? And how should policy-makers respond?
On 15 May, our star-studded panel made up of Danielle Allen, @helenmargetts.bsky.social and @ciaranm.bsky.social will discuss just this.
Sign up for this free, online event 👇
On 15 May, our star-studded panel made up of Danielle Allen, @helenmargetts.bsky.social and @ciaranm.bsky.social will discuss just this.
Sign up for this free, online event 👇
Reposted by Helen Margetts
I just want to tip my hat to the crack team of White House economists who were able to discover--in just a few short days--that the U.S. is dependent on China for smartphones, computers and semiconductors.
April 12, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I just want to tip my hat to the crack team of White House economists who were able to discover--in just a few short days--that the U.S. is dependent on China for smartphones, computers and semiconductors.
Reposted by Helen Margetts
If you are posting about migrants applying for visas, why would you use a stock photo of people arriving on small boats, clearly without visas? Come on guys. This is beneath you.
The number of migrants applying for visas to the UK has fallen by more than a third over the past year in a sign that net migration is set to tumble from record levels
Number of visa applications falls by more than a third
www.thetimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If you are posting about migrants applying for visas, why would you use a stock photo of people arriving on small boats, clearly without visas? Come on guys. This is beneath you.
This morning my phone asked me insistently whether I wanted to send a ‘running late’ message to the person I am meeting at lunch time tomorrow. Is that predictive capability - will I be late? Or is it a sign that the age of useful agentification is not quite here?
March 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This morning my phone asked me insistently whether I wanted to send a ‘running late’ message to the person I am meeting at lunch time tomorrow. Is that predictive capability - will I be late? Or is it a sign that the age of useful agentification is not quite here?
A lovely two days @wepsocial.bsky.social Anniversary Workshop, thank you everyone!
We are very happy to host the WEP 5️⃣0️⃣th Anniversary Workshop @lmumuenchen.bsky.social today & tomorrow!
Great presentations, intense debates & we are grateful for colleagues all around the globe joining us.
Sessions on:
👉elections, parties, mobilization
👉welfare politics
👉🇪🇺
👉policy & administration
Great presentations, intense debates & we are grateful for colleagues all around the globe joining us.
Sessions on:
👉elections, parties, mobilization
👉welfare politics
👉🇪🇺
👉policy & administration
March 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
A lovely two days @wepsocial.bsky.social Anniversary Workshop, thank you everyone!
Reposted by Helen Margetts
📈Out today in @PNASNews!📈
In a large pre-registered experiment (n=25,982), we find evidence that scaling the size of LLMs yields sharply diminishing persuasive returns for static political messages.
🧵:
In a large pre-registered experiment (n=25,982), we find evidence that scaling the size of LLMs yields sharply diminishing persuasive returns for static political messages.
🧵:
March 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
📈Out today in @PNASNews!📈
In a large pre-registered experiment (n=25,982), we find evidence that scaling the size of LLMs yields sharply diminishing persuasive returns for static political messages.
🧵:
In a large pre-registered experiment (n=25,982), we find evidence that scaling the size of LLMs yields sharply diminishing persuasive returns for static political messages.
🧵:
Reposted by Helen Margetts
Don’t know your DeepMind from your DeepSeek? I’m chairing this upcoming ‘Ask the Experts’ event on AI featuring @amoorelouise.bsky.social, @helenmargetts.bsky.social & Giles Pavey. In person tix all gone but you can still register online
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/the-a...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/the-a...
March 11, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Don’t know your DeepMind from your DeepSeek? I’m chairing this upcoming ‘Ask the Experts’ event on AI featuring @amoorelouise.bsky.social, @helenmargetts.bsky.social & Giles Pavey. In person tix all gone but you can still register online
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/the-a...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/the-a...
It was great fun making this podcast with @uclspp.bsky.social @conunitucl.bsky.social ‘s Alan Renwick @dorobantu.bsky.social & Jonathan Bright talking about our work at the Alan Turing Institute and @oii.ox.ac.uk
It's the latest episode of 'Uncovering Politics'.
How far could AI tools help to tackle stagnant public sector productivity? What are the dangers?
@helenmargetts.bsky.social, Cosima Dorobantu and Jonathan Bright discuss.
https://buff.ly/4jUQgEm
@ucl.ac.uk @uclpolicylab.bsky.social
How far could AI tools help to tackle stagnant public sector productivity? What are the dangers?
@helenmargetts.bsky.social, Cosima Dorobantu and Jonathan Bright discuss.
https://buff.ly/4jUQgEm
@ucl.ac.uk @uclpolicylab.bsky.social
February 21, 2025 at 6:20 AM
It was great fun making this podcast with @uclspp.bsky.social @conunitucl.bsky.social ‘s Alan Renwick @dorobantu.bsky.social & Jonathan Bright talking about our work at the Alan Turing Institute and @oii.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Helen Margetts
We've partnered with @ucl.ac.uk @uclpolicylab.bsky.social for this exciting new episode on AI and Public Services, with
@helenmargetts.bsky.social, Cosima Dorobantu and Jonathan Bright.
Listen on apple podcasts (or other podcast platforms!)
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/u...
@ox.ac.uk
@helenmargetts.bsky.social, Cosima Dorobantu and Jonathan Bright.
Listen on apple podcasts (or other podcast platforms!)
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/u...
@ox.ac.uk
UCL Uncovering Politics
Politics Podcast · 14 Seasons · Updated fortnightly
podcasts.apple.com
February 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
We've partnered with @ucl.ac.uk @uclpolicylab.bsky.social for this exciting new episode on AI and Public Services, with
@helenmargetts.bsky.social, Cosima Dorobantu and Jonathan Bright.
Listen on apple podcasts (or other podcast platforms!)
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/u...
@ox.ac.uk
@helenmargetts.bsky.social, Cosima Dorobantu and Jonathan Bright.
Listen on apple podcasts (or other podcast platforms!)
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/u...
@ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Helen Margetts
So grateful for @abeba.bsky.social on stage at the AI Action Summit, challenging us to be honest about the fact that we’re moving backward, not forward toward a shared social contract as Big Tech have now walked back nearly every voluntary commitment they once made to be responsible social actors.
February 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
So grateful for @abeba.bsky.social on stage at the AI Action Summit, challenging us to be honest about the fact that we’re moving backward, not forward toward a shared social contract as Big Tech have now walked back nearly every voluntary commitment they once made to be responsible social actors.
Taiwan digital minister @audreyt.org argues that competence should replace digital literacy when tackling disinformation and deepfakes - great panel on AI and Democracy at make.org welcome event to AI Action Summit in Paris
Make a change in our society with Make.org -
Finding proposals is easier when working together. Make.org helps you share ideas with forward-thinking people like you. Discover a democratic place where you can discuss the big issues you care about...
make.org
February 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Taiwan digital minister @audreyt.org argues that competence should replace digital literacy when tackling disinformation and deepfakes - great panel on AI and Democracy at make.org welcome event to AI Action Summit in Paris
A free and frank discussion of open source models in an excellent panel Advancing the Science of AI Safety at the Tony Blair Institute event in Paris w/ @alondra.bsky.social @yoshuabengio.bsky.social @jakobmokander.bsky.social and Prof Fu Ying
February 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A free and frank discussion of open source models in an excellent panel Advancing the Science of AI Safety at the Tony Blair Institute event in Paris w/ @alondra.bsky.social @yoshuabengio.bsky.social @jakobmokander.bsky.social and Prof Fu Ying
A brilliant article by the great @dacemoglumit.bsky.social - especially for those, like me, on the way to Paris for the #AI Action Summit - gives us all something to think about, re what is needed for AI to fulfil its promise.
Good morning here is your thread of Weekend FT highlights:
1. Nobel winning economist and author of "How Nations Fail" Daron Acemoglu shows how this weakening of institutions could lead to the end of the era of US prosperity on.ft.com/4hOXBU5
1. Nobel winning economist and author of "How Nations Fail" Daron Acemoglu shows how this weakening of institutions could lead to the end of the era of US prosperity on.ft.com/4hOXBU5
The real threat to American prosperity
[FREE TO READ] Nobel-winning economist Daron Acemoglu on trade wars, tech industry hubris — and how loss of faith in US institutions could spiral
on.ft.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A brilliant article by the great @dacemoglumit.bsky.social - especially for those, like me, on the way to Paris for the #AI Action Summit - gives us all something to think about, re what is needed for AI to fulfil its promise.