Earlier this year, Warren County, Kentucky, held a month-long online “town hall” using AI technology, engaging nearly 8,000 residents. Bowling Green, the county’s third-largest city, faces rapid population growth by 2050. To plan effectively, officials sought broad community input.
Traditional town halls often attract few attendees, usually those with strong negative views, making them unrepresentative. Large online surveys capture more opinions but create overwhelming data that’s hard to analyze.
Bowling Green’s officials turned to AI to handle this challenge. About 10% of residents participated in the survey, sharing their views on local policies. The AI then synthesized the feedback into a clear report, publicly available on the county website.
Warren County judge executive Doug Gorman told PBS NewsHour, “A typical town hall draws 23 people. This was the largest town hall in America.”
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The Bowling Green Experiment
In February, Warren County partnered with a local strategy firm to launch a website where residents could anonymously submit ideas. They used Pol.is, an open-source polling platform known for its success in civic engagement worldwide, especially in Taiwan.
Participants responded to an open-ended prompt about what they wanted to see in their community over the next 25 years, then voted on others’ ideas.
Over 33 days, nearly 8,000 residents contributed more than a million responses, sharing about 4,000 unique ideas—from new museums and expanded pedestrian infrastructure to more green spaces.
The data was analyzed with Sensemaker, an AI tool by Google’s Jigsaw, which categorized conversations, measured agreement, and generated actionable insights.
Sensemaker identified 2,370 ideas with over 80% agreement, including increasing healthcare specialists to reduce travel to Nashville, repurposing vacant retail spaces, and adding restaurants on the city’s north side.
The online format reached otherwise disengaged residents, including immigrants, by offering the survey in multiple languages with automatic translation. Daniel Tarnagda, an immigrant and local nonprofit leader, praised the effort: “People want to be part of something. But if you don’t ask, you don’t know.”
Volunteers are now turning the ideas into policy recommendations for county leaders by year-end. Jigsaw reports AI saved the county an average of 28 workdays.
Agreement Beyond Party Lines
Bowling Green marked Sensemaker’s first large-scale proof of concept, according to Jigsaw’s blog earlier this year.
A key insight was that when ideas remained anonymous and free from political labels, residents found surprising agreement.
Jigsaw CEO Yasmin Green told PBS, “Typically, only the loudest, angriest, or least-informed voices show up. AI can help keep conversations constructive and inclusive.”
This week, Jigsaw announced a new partnership with the Napolitan Institute, founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen. Unlike Bowling Green’s focus on local policy, this project aims to gauge how Americans nationwide view the country’s founding ideals, current state, and future direction.
AI’s Potential: Benefits and Risks
Concerns remain around using AI in local governance. While Bowling Green’s survey ensured no personal or demographic data was collected, future projects might not guarantee the same privacy.
AI systems are vulnerable to data breaches, risking exposure of sensitive political opinions submitted in confidence.
Bias in AI is another challenge. For example, researchers recently found Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot reflected Musk’s controversial views when answering sensitive questions. Such bias could undermine AI’s ability to provide neutral policy advice.
However, if these risks are managed, AI could transform civic engagement—helping communities overcome political divides and drive real change, as seen in Bowling Green’s experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Bowling Green AI experiment?
Warren County, Kentucky, used AI-powered online polling to engage nearly 8,000 residents in shaping local policy over 33 days, creating the largest digital town hall in the U.S.
How did AI help in this community engagement?
AI tools like Sensemaker analyzed thousands of ideas and millions of responses, identifying common ground among residents to generate actionable policy recommendations.
What platform was used for the survey?
The county used Pol.is, an open-source civic engagement platform, allowing anonymous idea submission and community voting.
How did the experiment address political polarization?
By keeping responses anonymous and stripping political identities, AI helped reveal surprising agreement beyond party lines.
Were there privacy concerns with using AI?
Bowling Green ensured no personal or demographic data was stored. However, AI use generally raises privacy and bias concerns that must be carefully manage
Conclusion
The Bowling Green AI experiment demonstrates how artificial intelligence can revolutionize civic engagement by amplifying diverse voices and uncovering common ground in divided communities. While challenges like privacy and bias remain, the project highlights AI’s potential to streamline public input, foster constructive dialogue, and guide better policy decisions. As AI continues to evolve, its thoughtful application could transform how local governments listen, learn, and act—building stronger, more inclusive communities for the future.
