Andrew Hall on AI’s growing influence, and the challenge of preserving democracy

Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform how people work, access information and participate in democracy, but its rapid advancement is raising urgent questions about governance, political influence and human control.

Andrew Hall, Davies Family Professor of Political Economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, warned that as AI becomes increasingly embedded in society, its political biases, access to reliable information and potential for manipulation could have profound implications for democratic institutions.

Drawing on research into how AI models provide political advice, Hall argued that stronger evaluation and accountability will be essential to ensuring the technology empowers individuals rather than undermining their independence.

In this live recording from the Fiduciary Investors Symposium at Stanford University in September 2026, Hall examines the opportunities and risks of AI, the governance challenges facing policymakers and how society can preserve freedom in an increasingly AI-driven world.