Series Overview

From November 2023 through August 2024, Higher Ground Labs’s Progressive AI Lab, Analyst Institute, Cooperative Impact Lab, and Research Collaborative co-hosted the AI Open Mic series. Over the span of 8 months, leading technologists and practitioners in the space came together to share the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in artificial intelligence and how organizations across the progressive ecosystem can use AI to further benefit the movement.

1,725 attendees joined us live during the AI Open Mic Series, signaling the engaged interest in generative AI in the political ecosystem. Attendees had the opportunity to learn and ask presenters meaningful questions about their briefings. Thank you to our partners and speakers who played a pivotal role in the success of the series.

You can find the content from the sessions below. Analyst Group membership is required to access the event recording and slides. If you’re not already a member, you can apply for a free membership.

Series Highlights by Topic

• November 2023: Content Innovation in Politics & Campaigns
  • Speakers: 

• • • AI: What is it and what is the potential: Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman, AI Impact lab.
    • Creating Plans Using AI: Luis Aguilar, CASA.
    • Upping Your Fundraising Game: Hillary Lehr, Quiller.
    • Test Results: AI VOs for Ads: Jake Levy-Pollans, Trilogy.
    • Views into the Other Side: Kelsey Suter and George Duarte, Drive Agency.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• February 2024: Data Analytics

• • Speakers: 
    • The State of AI and Data: Ameena Rasheed, Mapping Data.
    • Early Experiments With AI-powered Features: John Warnow, Daisychain.
    • AI in MS: A canvassing pilot with AI during the 2023 Mississippi Gubernatorial: Thomas Whitaker, Fair Count.
    • AI to Measure Programs and Generate More Efficient Audiences: Steven McAlpine, INTRVL.
    • Better Real People Stories: Using AI for improved issue advocacy: Keith Rouda, Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
    • AI-Driven Data Mining in the Fight for Ohio’s Abortion Rights: Britt Bischoff, Red Wine & Blue.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• March 2024: Research, Polling, & Messaging
  • Speakers:
    • Political Persuasion with LLMs: Eddie Siegel, Blue Rose Research.
    • Magnify AI Targeting: Tom Swartz, Change Research.
    • Understand People in Their Own Words (text analytics and qualitative research): Michiah Prull, Fathom.
    • Integrating LLMs into Qualitative Analysis: Jennifer Green, Research Collaborative.
    • Crowdsourced Content (message development): Lynnlee Thorne, Rural GroundGame.
    • Building a Foundation of Unstructured Data: Matt Lackey, Tavern Research.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• April 2024: Organizational and Operational Usage
  • Speakers:
    • Organizational Policies: Sonya Reynolds, The Movement Cooperative.
    • MoveOn’s AI Policy and Usage: Ilona Brand, MoveOn.
    • Research Automation: Aviva Rosman and Hamza Jaleel, BallotReady.
    • Leveraging Semantic Search for Knowledge Management: Tareq Alani, Chorus AI.
    • Message Development: Richard Córdova, Filantropía Puerto Rico.
    • Exploring Online Conversations About and By Native Americans: Craig Johnson, Unfiltered Media.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• May 2024: Fundraising
  • Speakers:
    • Amplifying John Fetterman: Case Study: Voter Engagement at Superhuman Scale: John McCrea, Amplify AI.
    • Smart Fundraising, Smarter Campaigns: AI for Down-ballot Campaigns: Isaac Troncoso, RaiseSmart AI.
    • Partnership with Social Security Works’ Email Program: Michael Phelan, Inbox Zero.
    • How Patti Minter’s Campaign Used Responsible AI to Supercharge Her Fundraising: Jose Cornejo, Quiller.
    • Donor Research at the Speed of AI: Will Schrepferman, DonorAtlas.
    • AI Voice Outreach and Fundraising: Talia Policelli, RelayVoice.
    • AI in Fundraising: Nick Fitz, Momentum.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• June 2024: AI Edition: Higher Ground Labs’ Political Tech Landscape Report Analysis
  • Speakers:
    • Jose Cornejo, Higher Ground Labs.
    • Leah Bae, Higher Ground Labs.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• July 2024: The Analyst Group Retreat: Recent Research in Generative Artificial Intelligence
  • Specific Sessions:
    • Recent Research Findings: Persuasion.
    • Recent Research Findings: The Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Campaigns.
    • Panel: Forging Democratic Resilience in Uncertain Times.
  • Access Session Content Here.

• August 2024: Voter Contact & Constituent Engagement
  • Speakers:
    • Creating Informational Content for Your Specific Audience:  Luis Aguilar, CASA.
    • Impacts of Project 2025: Using AI to create talking points and social media posts: Jamie Carter, DemCast.
    • Designing, Prototyping, and Testing a Volunteer Assisted AI Canvassing Tool:  Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean, Fair Count.
    • AI Programming: Building Custom LLMs and Tech Literacy In & Beyond 2024: Mikka Kei Macdonald, Community Change Action.
  • Access Session Content Here.

If you have any questions or feedback, or want to partner with us on AI experiments, reach out to ailab@highergroundlabs.com. To stay informed on our future work and upcoming events, you can sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on all the developments of AI in the ecosystem.

Higher Ground Labs is the leading funder, accelerator, and incubator of political technology. HGL’s Progressive AI Lab is the central hub for AI innovation within the Democratic and progressive landscape.