From the Burnes Center

Research Radar: Co-Designing AI Systems 

Beth Simone Noveck spotlights a groundbreaking ETH Zurich framework in this Reboot Democracy article, exploring how communities can co-design AI systems that reflect their values.…

House Republicans Include AI Regulation Preemption in Budget Reconciliation Bill

Beth Simone Noveck unpacks a bold new move by House Republicans in this Reboot Democracy piece, highlighting their push to block state-level AI regulation for…

Governing AI: Fired Over Fair Use – The Bombshell AI-Training Report

Beth Simone Noveck, Burnes Center director, unpacks the Copyright Office’s explosive AI training report in this essential Reboot Democracy article. With clear analysis and sharp…

News That Caught Our Eye #57

This week in News That Caught Our Eye: AI meets governance with striking contrasts—from student-led regulation rewrites to 10,000 public voices shaping federal AI policy.…

Research Radar: Race, Democracy, and AI – Spencer Overton Offers a Framework for a More Inclusive Digital Future

In this week’s Research Radar, Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck highlights Spencer Overton’s powerful framework on AI, race, and democracy—showing that the future of…

The Innovate US Podcast: Now Live!

The InnovateUS Podcast is now live—tune in to hear leading experts share practical insights on driving innovation and equity in the public sector. In our…

Global AI and Democracy Watch: UAE’s AI-Powered Legislative Office: An Experiment Worth Watching

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck explores the UAE’s bold new experiment: an AI-powered Legislative Intelligence Office aiming to accelerate and streamline lawmaking. In this…

Research Radar: Using Machine Learning to Map State Capacity

Discover how machine learning is reshaping our understanding of governance in Africa, as Beth Simone Noveck spotlights groundbreaking research mapping state capacity at the local…

AI Governance Watch: The Executive Order on AI in Education: Progress or Paradox?

In her latest piece, Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck examines the contradictions at the heart of the White House’s new executive order on AI…

From Citizen to Senator: How Brazil is Reimagining Citizen Engagement in the Age of AI

In From Citizen to Senator, Dane Gambrell curates a compelling collection of essays on how Brazil’s Federal Senate is pioneering AI-driven democratic innovation to reimagine…

Labor’s Perilous Moment

In Labor’s Perilous Moment, Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris delivers a searing account of how organized labor faces its most dangerous assault in decades,…

“If Everyone Understands AI, They’ll Find a Way to Use It”: How India Is Building a Future-Ready Civil Service

In this piece, Anirudh Dinesh explores how India is transforming its public service through Mission Karmayogi, training millions of civil servants in AI, policy, and…

ROI Influencers: Women in Business 2025: Top 50 — No. 44 Beth Noveck

Beth Noveck, director of the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University and chief innovation officer of New Jersey, has been named one of…

A small US city is experimenting with AI to find out what residents want

Beth Simone Noveck, director of the Burnes Center for social change, weighs in as Bowling Green, Kentucky, experiments with using AI to gather public input…

News That Caught Our Eye #53

AI is reshaping government—from new federal procurement guidelines under Trump to concerns over surveillance, legal ethics, and democratic participation. Catch up on this week’s key…

Artificial Intelligence in the Fight Against Misinformation: A Conversation with Ed Bice

In our latest Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI conversation, moderated by Beth Simone Noveck, Director of the Burnes Center, Ed Bice explains why…

How New Jersey’s AI Task Force Used AI to Develop Evidence-Based Policy Solutions with New Jersey Residents

Dane Gambrell, Research Fellow at the GovLab, reports on how New Jersey’s AI Task Force combined AI tools and large-scale public engagement to create faster,…

Brazil’s Legislative Workshops: Using AI to Strengthen Youth Engagement

Beth Simone Noveck, Dane Gambrell, Alisson Bruno Dias De Queiroz, and Luis Kimaid explore how Brazil’s Legislative Workshop program is teaching thousands of students to…

No Urban Myth:The Lasting Impact of COVID-19

Anita M. McGahan, Senior Fellow at the Burnes Center, co-authored an article examining the lasting impact of COVID-19 on Canadian cities, highlighting shifts in mobility,…

States Leading the Way: Why We’re Convening State Leaders to Shape America’s AI Future

Burnes Center Director, Beth Simone Noveck, highlights in this article how states are driving democratic innovation. She showcases initiatives like New York’s journalism tax incentives…

From Citizen to Senator: Artificial Intelligence and the Reinvention of Citizen Lawmaking in Brazil

Beth Simone Noveck, Burnes Center director, examines how Brazil’s Federal Senate is transforming citizens into active lawmakers through AI-enhanced participation. She explores how over 120,000…

Innovating in the Public Interest: Partnering for Public Good with Anita McGahan

In Innovating in the Public Interest, Anita McGahan explores how public professionals can collaborate with private-sector partners to scale impact. While public-private partnerships can drive…

Artificial Intelligence in the Fight Against Misinformation: A Conversation with Ed Bice

Join us on March 20 at 5 p.m. ET for a conversation with Ed Bice, CEO of Meedan and 2024 Skoll Award winner. We’ll explore…

Free Upskilling for Federal Workers Impacted by Layoffs

Federal workers impacted by layoffs can access free upskilling through InnovateUS and Power At Work. Join our workshops, courses, and coaching programs to build new…

America First, Science Last? Kratsios Hearing Signals Empty AI Strategy

Beth Simone Noveck, director of the Burnes Center, critiques Michael Kratsios’ confirmation hearing in this recent Reboot Democracy article, exposing the lack of vision in…

InnovateUS partners with Minnesota IT Services to provide no-cost training on Artificial Intelligence

Minnesota public sector professionals can now access free AI training through a partnership between InnovateUS and Minnesota IT Services. This initiative equips government employees with…

🎙️New Podcast Series: Private Innovation in the Public Interest with Anita McGahan

Join Anita McGahan and friends in a new podcast on the private sector forging the public good.

Civic Virtue Among Engineers

In “Civic Virtue among Engineers,” Erhardt Graeff discusses his efforts to combat the “culture of disengagement” in engineering education by fostering civic-mindedness among students. He…

Buwa Basebetsi: Workers, Beware: Trump Hates You

In the latest episode of “Buwa Basebetsi,” experts discuss how, despite his pro-working-class claims, President Donald Trump’s policies favor billionaires, corporations, and capital, adversely affecting…

AI in the classroom: Key insights from the Rethinking Reading Workshop Series

The Rethinking Reading: AI for Literacy Achievement workshop series by Agueda Quiroga from InnovateUS highlights how AI tools enhance literacy education by personalizing learning, providing…

How Tech Oligarchs Are Using AI Hype to Push Mass Layoffs

Tech companies are leveraging AI hype to justify mass layoffs, prioritizing investor profits over workers’ livelihoods. Read more to uncover the hidden motives behind the…

AP sues Trump aides for limiting press access: the news agency sues Trump aides for limiting press access

In her latest Boston Globe opinion piece, Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson dives into the Trump administration’s lawsuit against The Associated Press, exploring the…

News That Caught Our Eye #44

RebootDemocracy.AI’s latest update covers major AI policy shifts, including Trump’s repeal of AI safety rules and the $100B “Stargate” initiative. It also explores smart city…

The Peacemaking Machine: A Conversation with MIT and Deepmind’s Micheal Henry Tessler and Michiel A. Bakker

In a recent discussion, MIT’s Michael Henry Tessler and DeepMind’s Michiel A. Bakker explored how artificial intelligence can facilitate consensus-building in democratic deliberations. They highlighted…

GitLab Foundation Announces New AI for Economic Opportunity Fund Grantee Cohort

The Gitlab Foundation awards the Burnes Center’s Skills-First Workforce Initiative $250,000.

AI & The Future of Democracy: Exploring AI’s Role in Legislative Innovation and Democracy

Join us next week to hear from Beth Noveck, renowned Northeastern University professor, and the author of “Democracy Rebooted: How AI Can Save Democracy.” We’re…

Power At Work Is Back With #2025LaborOscars! Here are 68 movies to watch before the Academy Awards

Power At Work’s #2025LaborOscars highlights 68 films focused on worker power and unions, including both classics and new releases. Check out the full list and…

Innovation at the Library of Congress with Natalie Buda Smith

Natalie Buda Smith, Director of Digital Strategy at the Library of Congress, joined the Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI lecture series to discuss…

News That Caught Our Eye #42

President Trump repealed Biden’s AI safety regulations and launched “Stargate,” a $100B initiative to strengthen U.S. AI infrastructure, as global AI competition intensifies. Read more…

Power At Work Blogcast #77: How Worker Power Can Defend and Strengthen Reproductive Rights

In this blogcast, Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris speaks with Nicole Anschutz, a nurse at Planned Parenthood, and Jeffrey Hirsch, a UNC law professor,…

Collective Bargaining Succeeds, Again: End-of-Year Grades for 2024 Negotiations

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris, co-author of Results: Getting Things Done in Government, discusses effective leadership strategies for navigating complex political environments. His insights…

Rethinking Reading: AI for Literacy Achievement

Grounded in the science of reading, the science of learning, and research-based practices, this free program showcases how innovative leaders are using AI to make…

Beyond AI Regulation: New Executive Orders Show Government Embracing AI as Infrastructure

The Biden Administration’s latest executive orders mark a shift from AI regulation to recognizing AI as critical infrastructure, but their national security focus overlooks AI’s…

Private Innovation in the Public Interest for Collective Impact

Anita McGahan introduces the Private Innovation in the Public Interest (Pi2) initiative, which fosters collaboration between private-sector leaders and governments to solve critical public issues.…

New Jersey Issues Landmark Guidance on AI and Algorithmic Discrimination

Beth Noveck highlights New Jersey’s landmark guidance on AI, emphasizing that the state’s Law Against Discrimination applies to automated systems, ensuring AI tools do not…

When AI Meets Reality: California’s Wildfire Detection System

Beth Noveck explores the rapid spread of AI and its governance challenges, drawing parallels to wildfire management. She calls for proactive measures and collaboration among…

News That Caught Our Eye #40

The latest developments in AI and governance are explored, focusing on stories that affect democracy and technology. This edition provides insights into the evolving AI…

AI and the Future of Lawmaking: Innovation at the Library of Congress

Register for this lecture with Natalie Buda Smith and Dr. Beth Simone Noveck on AI’s role in legislative innovation, improving access to data, and summarizing…

Trump, Musk, and the rise of the conservative press

Jill Abramson, senior fellow at the Burnes Center, examines the rise of conservative media in a Boston Globe opinion piece, highlighting its growing influence, shifting…

Power At Work Blogcast #75: What Could Happen Under Trump?: A Labor Law Analysis

Watch Power At Work Blogcast #75 for a labor law analysis of what to expect under a second Trump administration, featuring experts Ben Sachs and…

2024 in review: InnovateUS’s year of impact and innovation

The Time Has Arrived: Vote for Your 2025 Labor Grammys Favorites!

Vote for your favorite worker power songs in the 2025 Labor Grammy Awards, starting January 6 for Power At Work subscribers!

The Burnes Center Impact Insider – Fall 2024

Was ABC right to settle with Trump?

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson notes Trump’s escalating attacks on the press, including ABC’s $15 million libel settlement. As president-elect, Trump threatens media licenses…

Agents for the few, queues for the many – or agents for all?

Tiago C. Peixoto and Luke Jordan explore the disparity in AI agent access, noting how current systems often benefit only a few. They propose an…

Smart City, Smarter Citizens with Mayor San-Cheng Chang

Mayor San-Cheng Chang was a guest in the Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI Lecture Series, where he discussed how AI is being used…

Frank McCourt on Our Biggest Fight and Future of TikTok

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck writes about Frank McCourt as a guest in the Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI Lecture Series, where…

Pi-Squared Part 5: Sustaining Excellence

EVENT: Join us November 19 to discuss “Our Biggest Fight” with Frank McCourt

Join us on November 19 at 5 p.m. ET for a conversation with Frank H. McCourt, Jr. about his new book Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming…

Pi-Squared Part 4: Building Resources and Capabilities

Trump is running scared of women voters

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes about Trump’s attempt to position himself as a “protector” of women amid rising concerns about abortion rights and…

Pi-Squared Part 3: Excelling in Value Creation

Building Worker Power in the AI Age: A Blueprint from DOL

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new recommendations to guide employers and tech developers on implementing AI in ways that enhance rather than undermine…

Democracy dies in broad daylight, thanks to Jeff Bezos

Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes about Jeff Bezos pulling the Washington Post’s Kamala Harris endorsement, calling it a cowardly decision that betrays both the First…

Transforming Public Sector Leadership: Inside the Results Framework Workshop

Steve Kadish’s “Results Framework” focuses on effective teams, data-driven decisions, project management, and performance monitoring for public sector success.

Pi-Squared Part 2: Engaging Stakeholders

Harris is running out of time

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes about Kamala Harris struggling to secure enough Black and Hispanic voter support for Prospect Magazine.

Pi-Squared Part 1: The Challenge of Creating a Compelling Aspiration

InnovateUS expands free, online AI training for public sector with Google.org support

InnovateUS, a partner project of the Burnes Center, has received $5 million in funding from Google.org to expand AI training for public sector professionals.

Donald Trump’s hurricane lies may take years to clean up

Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine about how deadly hurricanes in the Southeast could impact the presidential race.

Introducing Pi-Squared: Public Innovation in the Public Interest

Senior Fellow Anita McGahan launches “Pi-Squared,” an initiative to empower business leaders to create impactful, scalable solutions to society’s toughest challenges.

Empowering the Workforce: Secretary of Labor Julie Su on Her Role and the State of Labor in 2024

Senior Fellow Seth Harris talks with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to discuss her role in leading the U.S. Department of Labor, her accomplishments,…

Senator Bernie Sanders on the Current State of Labor and Worker Rights

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by Senator Bernie Sanders in a special blogcast discussing the current state of the labor movement, worker…

Introducing PI-Squared: Private innovation in the public interest

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Anita McGahan led InnovateUS workshops on the Pi-Squared initiative, promoting public-private partnerships for innovation. She highlighted lessons from successful and failed…

Gender and race won’t hold Kamala Harris back

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine, highlighting distinct motivations of younger voters, such as racial justice, abortion rights, and economic issues,…

Maryland Department of Information Technology Provides Free AI Training to State Employees Thanks to Partnership with InnovateUS

Maryland Department of Information Technology announces that Maryland state employees will now be offering InnovateUS’s free asynchronous courses and workshops.

Now recruiting for AI for Impact Co-ops!

Digital Participation Infrastructure

Q&A with Audrey Tang and Beth Simone Noveck on widening the lens on digital infrastructure to focus on civic participation and to support thriving, inclusive,…

Building an ethics ecosystem for AI and big data

Jess Silverman writes on Dr. John Basl’s call for a comprehensive “ethics ecosystem” for artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. Basl highlights common pitfalls in…

California’s Digital Democracy: Using AI to Enhance Legislative Transparency

View the full conversation from the Sept 12, 2024 lecture by David Lesher with remarks from Senator Andrew Zwicker

The race between Trump and Harris could not be tighter

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine, contrasting Kamala Harris’s focused campaign with Trump’s erratic behavior, highlighting their upcoming debate’s potential impact…

Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI Lecture Series Returns on September 12

Join us for the Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI lecture series, which kicks off this Thursday, brings together changemakers from a variety of…

EVENT: Join us on September 12 for a conversation with David Lesher on “Using AI to Foster Legislative Transparency”

The Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI lecture series returns on September 12 with David Lesher, a veteran California journalist and state policy expert…

Private Innovation in the Public Sector Series

The Burnes Center’s Anita McGahan will host three InnovateUS sessions to address the opportunities, problems, triumphs, and disasters that can arise when public agencies engage…

US election officials have plenty to fear

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes about the escalating threats and challenges faced by election workers ahead of the 2024 elections for Prospect Magazine.

The Burnes Center August 2024 Impact Insider

Kamala Harris doesn’t need to talk about race

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine.

Using AI to drive constituent focused outcomes

Burnes Center Senior Fellow David Fields discusses the AI for Impact Co-op program at the AWS Imagine Conference.

Voter registration in hospitals is the new frontier in health care

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Alister Martin discusses how voting influences health outcomes, emphasizing civic engagement’s role in creating healthier communities.

InnovateUS launches Responsible AI for Public Professionals: Scaling AI in Your Organization 

Jess Silverman covers topics within the online course for the InnnovateUS AI series, Responsible AI for Public Professions: Scaling AI in Your Organization.

Predicting the 2024 Election and Labor’s Votes: Results from the Quarterly Power At Work Labor Issues Survey (Q3 2024) – Part 1 

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris, and Zeno Minotti, discuss findings from a quarterly labor issues survey.

Technology, Humanity, and the Existential Test

Burnes Center Senior Fellow John Battelle discusses how technology affects our humanity, forcing us to question our identity and agency in a data-driven world.

Tim Walz is weirdly delicious

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine

Behavioral science for better government: Key insights from recent InnovateUS workshops in partnership with the Behavioral Insights Team

InnovateUS discusses offering workshops on leveraging behavioral science to improve government operations and policy outcomes.

July Jobs Report

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris reports on the labor market alongside Simone Del Rosario, during the month of July.

How AI chatbots could improve civic engagement in the 2024 election

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck discusses the potential of AI to improve voter education.

JetBlue, Pfizer earnings, Delta reportedly goes after CrowdStrike: Yahoo Finance

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris discusses the state of the labor market on Yahoo Finance.

Women can win Harris the election

Burnes Center Senior Fellow and Northeastern Professor Jill Abramson discusses how women could win the election for VP Harris.

What’s SearchGPT Really About? Moving Past the Training Data Dilemma

Senior Fellow at the Burnes Center and Professor of Practice John Battelle expands on AI powered search engine, SearchGPT.

From Biden to Harris: What does it mean for unions?

Senior Fellow Seth Harris discusses President Biden ending his re-election campaign, highlighting Biden’s resilience, his relationship with organized labor, and Vice-President Kamala Harris continuing Biden’s…

What Trump vs. Harris means for the auto industry

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris discusses what the upcoming election means for the auto industry.

Don’t underestimate Kamala Harris

Burnes Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine.

Link Health and NeighborHealth join forces to end the digital divide

Link Health joined forces with NeighborHealth to expand digital equity and ensure community health centers are equipped with the tools and resources needed to better…

Link Health & NeighborHealth Unite to Bridge the Digital Divide, Empowering Boston’s Undeserved Communities to Plug In

Dr. Alister Martin, ER physician and Link Health Founder, efforts to address the digital divide by joining forces with Link Health and NeighborHealth.

Power at Work Power Hour #8: Democracy Under Attack: Lieberwitz and Reddy on Unions, Universities, the Supreme Court, and more!

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by Madison Zack-Wu, lead organizer of Strippers Are Workers, and Kim Kelly, freelance labor journalist, to discuss…

Trailer: InnovateUS: Responsible AI for Public Professionals: Using Generative AI at Work

Director Beth Simone Noveck introduces the InnovateUS: Responsible AI for Public Professionals: Using Generative AI at Work free online course.

AI’s transformative role in democratic societies

Beth SImone Noveck discusses AI’s role within democracy.

InnovateUS launches Responsible AI for Public Professionals: Using Generative AI at Work

InnovateUS launches the “Responsible AI for Public Professionals” course, enabling public sector employees to use generative AI responsibly. This free, self-paced course covers drafting documents,…

Power At Work Blogcast #52: Strippers Are Workers: Fringe Organizing in Washington’s Strip Clubs

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by Madison Zack-Wu, lead organizer of Strippers Are Workers, and Kim Kelly, freelance labor journalist, to discuss…

Governor Healey Meets with Northeastern Students Working with Administration on AI Project Under InnovateMA Partnership 

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops presented their work to the Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

AI for Impact Co-op Students Present Final Projects to Governor Maura Healey

The Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University’s AI for Impact Co-ops presented their work to the Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #20: June 25th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

AI for Impact Co-ops Present Final Projects for Massachusetts State Agency Partners 

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops went on a trip to present for their Massachusetts state agency partners at their offices.

NEW BOOK: Why AI Undermines Democracy and What to Do about It

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck reviews Mark Coeckelbergh’s “Why AI Undermines Democracy and What to Do about It”.

Listening to the Unheard: Mexico’s Unprecedented Effort to Rebuild Trust in its Justice System

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck co-authored an article on GovLab Fellow Dino Cantu’s experience creating The Encuentro Nacional para una Agenda de Seguridad y…

New Jersey Co-Creates AI Strategy With Public-Sector Staff

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck co-authored a GovTech article on how New Jersey is building an ethical framework for AI in state government.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Accelerate Collective Intelligence: Policy Synth and Smarter Crowdsourcing

Burnes Center Research Fellow Dane Gambrell writes on using AI-driven Smarter Crowdsourcing to solve complex public sector challenges efficiently.

Ads, Ads Everywhere

Burnes Center Senior Fellow John Battelle examines the advertising world and its complexities.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #18: May 28th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #17: May 20th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

“Bot Beat” – a new, independent podcast about the journalists experimenting with AI

The Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp announces Bot Beat, an independent podcast tracking the stories of journalists harnessing AI in…

Strategy Can No Longer Ignore Planetary Boundaries: A Call for Tackling Strategy’s Ecological Fallacy

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Anita McGahan co-authors a paper about how academics in the field of Strategy need to change to have social impact on…

How the Condé Union (Almost) Crashed the Met Gala

Burnes Center Communications Intern Joseph Brant wrote on the Condé Union, a News Guild of New York-CWA, deal with Condé Nast.

Can GenAI Change Big Companies?

Burnes Center Senior Fellow John Battelle examines the “genAI” revolution and asks if the technology is generating new opportunities for customers.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #15: May 8th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

The May Impact Insider: The Burnes Center Quarterly Report

Countering Election Subversion: 27 Strategies to Build a Stronger Democracy

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck and Research Fellow Dane Gambrell from The GovLab and the Burnes Center for Social Change developed recommendations to counter…

Power At Work Blogcast #41: BREAKING NEWS BLOGCAST: FTC Kills Non-Compete Agreements

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris talks with Hannah Garden-Monheit about the FTC’s new rule that she drafted prohibiting employers from imposing non-compete agreements on…

Will GenAI Kill The Web?

Burnes Center Senior Fellow John Battelle shares his thoughts on The Atlantic’s article It’s The End of the Web As We Know It.

The Economic Case for “High Road” Labor Practices

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Anita McGahan shares the findings from her comprehensive study investigating the impacts if wage theft.

Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang’s “Job Description” — a guiding star for generative AI, participatory democracy, and healing online deliberation

Burnes Center Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp shares their experience hearing from Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan.

New Jersey is turning to AI to improve the job search process

MyCareer.NJ.Gov exemplifies the critical role that public entities can play in harnessing AI for public good. As commercial websites and social media platforms proliferate, often…

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #11: April 9nd, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #13: April 23rd, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Upskilling your workforce for the age of AI

Burnes Center Research Fellow Dane Gambrell shares the transcript of Director Beth Simone Noveck and Senior Fellow Seth Harris’s conversation with Rick Maher.

AI for Impact Trip to the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops went on a trip to the Executive Office of Technology Security and Services.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #10: April 2nd, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

New White House Guidance on AI: Strong on Skills, Short on Public Engagement

Burnes Center Senior Director Beth Simone Noveck shares her opinion on the new White House guidance on AI.

No. TV Advertising Is Not Going to Become “Performance Driven”

Burnes Center Senior Fellow John Battelle writes in his blog about the transition from cable to digital television.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #9: March 25th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #8: March 18th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #7: March 14th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Let AI remake the whole U.S. government, with human ingenuity alongside data

Burnes Center Direct Beth Simone Noveck reflects on Josh Tyrangiel’s latest Washington Post article.

InnovateUS releases results of listening series on federal and state AI training needs

InnovateUS has concluded a multi-month engagement process with 100+ AI leaders to gather input on the development of a new philanthropically-funded, national online training program…

Prices, jobs, access to groceries: What’s at stake as the FTC tries to kill the Kroger-Albertsons merger

The Burne’s Center’s Senior Fellow Seth Harris comments on the FTC’s push to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger as a potential victory for workers.

The January Impact Insider: The Burnes Center Quarterly Report

Guns, Narratives, and AI

Director of the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University, Beth Simone Noveck explores how the same government-is-the-problem-not-the-solution narrative about guns has direct parallels…

Don’t blame Biden’s dogs for the blood on the White House floors

The Burne’s Center’s Senior Fellow Jill Abramson shares her opinion on the Biden’s dog, Commander, and his biting attacks in the White House.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #5: February 20th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jacob Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

To Fight Extremism and Hate Speech Online, Invest in AI-Powered Content Moderation

The Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jacob Kemp analyzes how advanced AI could provide online content moderation.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #4: February 13th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jacob Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

AI for Impact Trip to the Museum of Science, Boston

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops went on a trip to the Museum of Science to see the AI exhibits.

Making bureaucracy work for you in the public sector

Burnes Center’s InnovateUS’s Jess Silverman reflects on Marina Nitz’s workshop

Vint Cerf: Maybe We Need an Internet Driver’s License

Burnes Center’s Senior Fellow John Battelle reflects on his talk with Vint Cerf.

NEW REPORT: Brennan Center on AI and Congress

Burnes Center’s Director Beth Simone Noveck posts a clip from the Brennan Center for Justice’s new essay on AI and Congress.

The Arms Race in Assistive AI

Burnes Center’s Director Beth Simone Noveck writes on how assistive AI could make it easier for lobbyists to draft “model bills”.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #3: February 6th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jacob Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Guns Are Not Just a Public Health Problem

Burnes Center’s Senior Fellow Jonathan M. Metzl, MD, PhD writes about guns being not only a threat to public health, but also a threat to…

How AI can help reshape Congress

Burnes Center’s Director Beth Simone Noveck writes on how Congress can modernize its operations using AI.

A journalist assisted a woman’s quest for suicide. Did he get too involved?

Burnes Center’s Senior Fellow Jill Abramson comments on the importance of disclosing a journalist’s involvement in a story.

Harvard students aren’t snowflakes

Burnes Center’s Senior Fellow Jill Abramson shares her opposing opinion to Ken Griffin’s statement that Harvard is failing to produce the next generation of leaders.

Scandal at the Post Office: Technology on Tap, Justice on Top

The Horizon scandal plastering British headlines right now illuminates the dangers of misaligned human priorities.

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #2: January 30th, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jacob Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #1: January 22nd, 2024

Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jacob Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…

POPVOX releases new report on AI and legislatures

POPVOX Foundation has released a pathbreaking new report on AI and legislatures.

AI4 Impact: Transforming Higher Education through Experiential AI Learning

Burnes Center Senior Fellow David Fields discusses the transformative AI4Impact Co-op Program at Northeastern University.

Interview with Shannon Wait, Alphabet Workers Union-CWA Organizer

Burnes Center Research Fellow Dane Gambrell interviews Shannon Wait on the work AWU-CWA is doing to protect workers from risks posed by AI and the…

Harnessing AI to Improve Government Service and Customer Experience

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs on using AI to strengthen government services.

Full Testimony: Beth Simone Noveck on harnessing AI to improve government services and customer experience

The Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck testifies on harnessing AI to make government more effective, efficient, and responsive.

How AI Could Restore Our Faith in Democracy

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck discusses using AI to identify strategies to strengthen our democracy.

The Union Density Rate Likely Increased in 2023. You Read That Right.

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris justifies his prediction that union density rates will have increased.

Grading my 2023 Predictions: The Batting Average Dips

Burnes Center Senior Fellow John Battelle grades his 2023 predictions for AI and more.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Tackle the Literacy Challenge

Why are only only 32% of American 4th graders proficient in reading? Visit unlockingliteracy.ai and help us diagnose why we are failing to teach our…

Collective Bargaining in 2023: End-of-Year Grades

As the year comes to an end, Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris discusses the collective bargaining of 2023.

Workers By The Numbers #14: Analyzing The November Jobs and Unemployment Report With Elise Gould and Rick McGahey

Alicia Modestino, Associate Professor at Northeastern University, hosts this month’s Workers by the Numbers Blogcast. Listen to her in conversation with Elise Gould and Rick…

Exploring the Power of Collective Intelligence: A Conversation with Prateek Buch and Brendan Arnold

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck interviews Prateek Buch and Brendan Arnold from the UK Government’s Policy Lab on Collective Intelligence.

Celebrating One Year of Putting Workers at the Center of the Power At Work Blog 

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris celebrates the one year anniversary of the Power At Work by looking back at key moments for workers and…

How to Count Strikes and Collective Actions with Johnnie Kallas

This post is an edited interview of Johnnie Kallas, Director of the Cornell ILR Labor Action Tracker, conducted by the Labor Radio Podcast Network.

Sam Altman, One True Leader and the Missed Opportunity for Innovation

As we navigate the complexities of leadership in the age of AI and beyond, the question of how we structure our systems of governance –…

Was vTaiwan such a big flop, after all?

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck discusses vTaiwan, Taiwan’s flagship crowdlaw project.

InnovateUS partners with New Jersey to launch free online course and explainer video to promote state employees’ responsible use of generative artificial intelligence

InnovateUS works with the State of New Jersey to promote state employees’ responsible use of generative artificial intelligence.

Picking the perfect experts: Smarter Crowdsourcing and solving Covid-19

Whether it’s the spread of Covid or a volcano erupting, governments have a duty to protect their citizens from harm. But often, our go to…

Artificial Intelligence can help us create a more efficient government

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck weighs in on the use of AI in government.

Saving Yellow’s Union Jobs

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris delves into on a bankruptcy case considering Yellow Corporation’s future and how it will impact union jobs.

AI for the People: A Federal Mandate for Inclusive Engagement

Artificial Intelligence is not just transforming economies and industries; it holds the key to revolutionizing public engagement with the federal government.

Beth Simone Noveck | “Unlocking collective intelligence: AI’s role in enhancing democracy”

Weekly SRI Seminar Series welcomes Beth Simone Noveck, a professor at Northeastern University, where she directs the Burnes Center for Social Change and its partner…

Modernizing Unemployment Benefits in New Jersey: A Case Study and Guide for Implementing New Technologies and Methods to Improve Benefit Systems

On September 20th, members of the New Jersey Office of Innovation, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Heldrich Center for…

Are we focusing too much on the risks of AI and not the potential for good?

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck discusses the President’s Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence.

The Impact Insider: The Burnes Center Quarterly Report October 2023

Burnes Center Quarterly Report October 2023

Google.org support to train more government workers in digital skills

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck delves into the details of the $2 million in funding and pro bono support to InnovateUS.

Why Are There So Many Strikes?

Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris delves into the role employers play in the surge of recent strikes.

Jennifer Pahlka on Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age

In a special InnovateUS event on September 7th, Jennifer Pahlka, Former Deputy Chief Technology under President Obama and founder of Code for America joined Steve…

Former Chief Innovation Officer for the US Department of Labor Addresses Public Service Professionals on the Future of Work

On Thursday, August 24th, over 80 public service professionals joined Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Chike Aguh, former Chief Innovation Officer at the…

The Role of Unions and Collective Bargaining As Temperatures Rise

Power At Work Blog Intern Asia Simms delves into the relationship between climate change and labor unions.

Power at Work Blogcast #15: An Interview with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler

The Power At Work Blog proudly presents an exclusive and important interview with President Liz Shuler of the AFL-CIO as our second Labor Day blogcast.…

The Threat of Heat to Worker Power

Power at Work Intern Asia Simms delves into the effect of climate change on worker power.

InnovateUS partners with U.S. Office of Personnel Management to engage 1,600 interns in digital and innovation trainings

In an effort to support our mission of delivering free online learning for public service professionals, InnovateUS, which provides no-cost at-your-own pace and live learning…

The Uncertain Future of Generation Z’s Work Lives

Power at Work Contributor Ingrid Berg discusses the way Generation Z’s careers may vary significantly from past generations’.

InnovateUS: Tackling Tough Problems to Improve Public Services

A cohorted learning program for public sector leaders and managers on how to tackle issues while executing change and delivering results.

The Kluz Prize for PeaceTech — Celebrating Innovation for a Peaceful World

Kluz Ventures proudly launches the Kluz Prize for PeaceTech 2023, an initiative designed to celebrate, recognize, and propel the groundbreaking use of cutting-edge technologies in…

The Fall 2023 Social Change Course Series

A collection of graduate courses that exemplify Northeastern University’s unwavering commitment to addressing pressing societal issues.

Power at Work Blogcast: Honoring National Whistleblower Day

In honor of National Whistleblower Day, Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris spoke with Siri Nelson and Stephen Kohn of the National Whistleblower Center, Dr.…

The Impact Insider: Burnes Center Quarterly Report July 2023

Burnes Center Quarterly Report July 2023

New Recommendations Released for Procurement of AI Tools in Government

The GovLab has released a new report offering recommendations for government in procuring artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

The Impact Insider: The Burnes Center Quarterly Report June 2023

Burnes Center Quarterly Report June 2023

InnovateUS releases “Unlocking the Power of Generative AI for Better Governance”

New InnovateUS tutorial teaches public sector professionals how to responsibly use Generative AI.