Seasonal Greetings and a 2025 Recap
ModParl closes out 2025 with a practical example of AI in action, spotlighting Anguilla’s House of Assembly and its new AI-powered Hansard and legislative website. We also look back on a year of legislative modernization — from Europe to Africa and Asia.
AI in Parliaments is a Journey, Not a Switch
A conversation with Andy Williamson of the Inter-Parliamentary Union examines why adopting AI in parliaments is a gradual institutional journey. Centered on the new Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments, the conversation explores how legislatures can assess readiness, build governance and capacity, and focus on democratic impact while learning from peer institutions.
Public Witness Testimony on Modernizing Constituent Engagement Through Emerging Technology
On December 17, 2025, POPVOX Foundation Director of Global Initiatives Aubrey Wilson submitted testimony to the Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation on how emerging technologies — particularly AI — are reshaping constituent engagement in legislatures around the world and what lessons the US House can draw from these efforts.
Parliaments as Living Information Systems
A global shift is underway as AI pushes parliaments to evolve from paper-bound institutions into fully digital, adaptive information systems. This post explores why past tech waves fell short, what today’s “pacing problem” means for democracy, and how coordinated international action can drive genuine digital transformation.
The Pebble and the Boulder: Five Futures for Legislatures in the Age of AI
A look at five plausible futures for legislatures in the age of AI — and why global parliamentary leaders are acting now to address the “pacing problem,” strengthen oversight, and ensure democratic institutions shape, rather than get shaped by, accelerating technology.
On Day Three: The Final Recommendations Shaping the Future of AI in Parliaments
On the final day of the Artificial Intelligence Conference in Kuala Lumpur, delegates adopted twelve early recommendations to guide responsible AI adoption in legislatures — from readiness assessments and governance frameworks to capacity-building, oversight, and shared learning across parliaments.
On Day Two: Parliaments Take Stock and Plan Next Steps on AI
The second day of the Artificial Intelligence Conference in Kuala Lumpur spotlighted early-stage experimentation, widening capacity gaps, and new tools like the IPU’s AI Maturity Framework as parliaments assess their progress and chart next steps for trustworthy AI adoption.
The Path Forward: Continuing the CAO's Legacy of Leadership
As Catherine Szpindor retires after reshaping the House’s modern infrastructure, Congress enters a high-stakes era where AI, post-Chevron demands, and decades of capacity loss make the next CAO appointment a generational decision for how effectively the institution can serve the American people.
On Day One: Are Parliaments Preparing for AI — or Being Pulled by It?
A firsthand look from Kuala Lumpur at how parliaments worldwide are grappling with the rise of AI — and whether they’re steering the technology or being swept along by it. Day one of the Artificial Intelligence Conference included global lawmakers debating future scenarios developed by the IPU and POPVOX Foundation, the urgent need to keep humans in the loop, and the promise of AI to free legislators for deeper public engagement.
The Academic Edition
From the UK and Japan to Italy and beyond, a new wave of academic research is revealing how artificial intelligence is reshaping parliaments worldwide. The latest ModParl explores what AI means for trust, representation, and the human side of lawmaking.
When Legislators Meet AI
Inside the Athens Democracy Forum’s two-day Parliamentary Caucus on technology, trust, and the future of representation
Top 5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid as a Legislative Staffer Using a GenAI LLM
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can be powerful assistants for Congressional and Parliamentary staff — but only if used correctly. This guide breaks down five common mistakes legislative professionals make when using AI for research, drafting, and casework, and offers practical tips for getting accurate, useful results while maintaining sound judgment and oversight.
On Missing Imagination
Reflections from the Athens Democracy Forum on AI, democracy, and the courage to rethink political institutions
Seeing Parliaments as Spaces and Places
This month’s Modern Parliament highlights global innovations in citizen engagement—from AI ministers and virtual parliaments to the new "Parliament as a Space and Place" guide, cookbooks, and more.
Innovation in Action: Highlights from the 2025 Congressional Hackathon
The 2025 Congressional Hackathon brought Members of Congress, staff, technologists, and students together at the US Capitol for a day of collaboration, big announcements, and inspiring solutions from the next generation of innovators working to modernize Congress.
The Promise of Politics in the Age of AI
At the Global Gathering in Portugal, voices from 144 countries explored AI accountability, digital democracy, and community-driven innovation as part of a renewed vision for politics in the age of AI.
POPVOX Foundation Launches “AI Summer Camp” for Congressional Staff
POPVOX Foundation’s AI Summer Camp aims to encourage Members of Congress and their staff to dedicate meaningful time to explore use cases of institutionally approved LLMs. The project addresses the gap between Congressional offices' curiosity about the benefits and risks of using AI capabilities and the practical challenge of finding time to explore this emerging technology while having fun along the way.
New Resources on AI-Adoption Change Management, Congressional Office AI Use Policies, and Creating Custom GPTs for the Legislative Workforce
New resources designed specifically to help House and Senate chiefs of staff and their teams navigate the responsible adoption of generative AI (GenAI) tools in their daily work.
The Hill: A year after Loper Bright, Congress has failed to step up (Op-Ed)
One year after the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision ended judicial deference to federal agencies, Congress has yet to step up to its constitutional responsibilities. Instead of investing in the expertise and infrastructure needed to legislate effectively, Congress is defunding the very institutions that support it—at a time when precision lawmaking and AI-era governance demand more, not less.
POPVOX Foundation Signs MOU with AFRIPAL and CEPA to Support Legislative Innovation in Africa
POPVOX Foundation has signed a four-year MOU with AFRIPAL Convening and Uganda-based CEPA to support legislative capacity and innovation across Africa. The partnership centers on training for MPs and staff, research and workshops on technology and AI in lawmaking, and shared toolkits tailored to African parliaments as they navigate digital transformation.