The Latest in Parliamentary Modernization and AI

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Written By Beatriz Rey

From Canada’s AI strategy to IPEN’s leadership transition and new debates about institutional culture, oversight, and legislative capacity

BY BEATRIZ REY

It’s been a while since I shared a recommendations post, so I thought I would bring together a few recent developments in legislative modernization and AI, along with some pieces worth reading. I have also been experimenting with a new AI research tool called Consensus, which I have found useful for discovering academic work, and thought some of you might enjoy exploring it too.

Also, for those attending the 2026 NCSL Legislative Summit in Chicago, POPVOX Foundation is hosting an informal evening reception on July 28, from 5:30-7 PM. It will bring together parliamentarians and legislative staff for peer exchange on legislative modernization and AI. The POPVOX team will also share more about the Digital Parliaments Project (DPP), which helps parliaments digitize legislative records, standardize data, and build the infrastructure needed to make meaningful use of AI tools. You can register here.

Canada’s AI Strategy and Parliament’s Human-Centered Approach

Canada released its national AI strategy, AI for All, last month. The strategy is organized around six pillars, ranging from protecting democracy to strengthening Canada’s position as a global AI innovator. Parliament has also been developing its own approach: last year, the House of Commons Administration launched an AI strategy for 2025–2027, following an 18-month collaborative process that began in April 2024. The document calls for a measured, human-centered approach to the use of AI in parliamentary work. A central priority is AI literacy — the same issue I recently discussed with Annelie Lotriet, Deputy Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly — so that both Members and staff understand how to use these tools as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, their own work.

A New Chapter for IPEN

Dr. Cristina Leston-Bandeira has stepped down as Chair of the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN) after six years. Under her leadership, IPEN grew from an idea into a global community connecting academics and practitioners working on parliament and public engagement. We thank Cristina for everything she has done to build and strengthen the network, and look forward to its next chapter under Dr. Sarah Moulds.

Shared Challenges Across Parliamentary Systems

In the latest issue of The Parliamentarian, Paul C. Smith compares Commonwealth Parliaments and US state legislatures and argues that both face similar pressures despite their institutional differences. He focuses on the erosion of norms, fragile institutional memory, constant public exposure, and the growing use of AI in legislative work. His central claim is that rules and technology cannot compensate for weak institutional culture. The piece is also a reminder that, as parliaments modernize, sharing experiences across systems can help them recognize common problems and learn from different institutional responses.

Other News

  • The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) participated in AI governance convenings in Geneva, bringing a parliamentary perspective to discussions on oversight, national AI strategies, legislation, and the institutional capacity parliaments need to keep pace with technological change.

  • The Parliament of Tajikistan recently held UNDP-supported training on how AI can strengthen legislative analysis, evidence-based policymaking, and parliamentary efficiency while maintaining ethics, transparency, accountability, and human judgment.

Events

Modern Parliament (“ModParl”) is a newsletter from POPVOX Foundation that provides insights into the evolution of legislative institutions worldwide. Learn more and subscribe at modparl.substack.com.

Beatriz Rey
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