BOOK LAUNCH EVENT | Recoding Democracy by Ted Lechterman

Does AI require us to rethink the value of democracy? Join IE School of Arts & Humanities, in collaboration with IE Editorial Knowledge, and Ted Lechterman, IE’s UNESCO Chair in AI Ethics and Governance, and distinguished guests for a pre-release celebration of Recoding Democracy: AI and the Fight for Our Democratic Future, a bold new book from Polity Press. Recoding Democracy reshapes the debate on AI’s political future, redefining what democracy demands of AI—and reimagining democracy itself. Lechterman will preview the book’s central claims and debate them with Iason Gabriel, Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind, and Annette Zimmermann, Interim Chair of Political Philosophy at the University of Bayreuth. A networking reception and book signing will follow. The book marks a major milestone for the UNESCO Chair in AI Ethics and Governance, established in 2024 at IE School of Arts & Humanities. Date and time: 16 November 2026, 18:00–20:00 (doors open at 17:30) Location: IE Tower, 24th floor Endorsements “Recoding Democracy is an illuminating book of political philosophy that addresses urgent questions about AI and democratic practice. It offers a clear-eyed way for democrats to shape AI to democratic ends, rather than keeping it at arm’s length or being overtaken by it.” —Joshua Cohen, Apple University and University of California, Berkeley; co-editor of Boston Review “Lechterman’s book finally sets out a principled approach to AI governance that subjects AI to democratic authority. It offers clear direction for engaging with AI in ways that uphold democratic values. Given how little work on AI ethics and governance foregrounds political philosophy, this book makes an important contribution to the field.” —Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem, African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Pretoria; Chairperson, UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Science and Technology (COMEST) About the speakers Theodore “Ted” Lechterman is Associate Professor of Philosophy at IE School of Arts & Humanities, where he holds the UNESCO Chair in AI Ethics and Governance. His first book, The Tyranny of Generosity (Oxford University Press, 2022), received an honorable mention for the ECPR Political Theory Prize. His research appears in leading outlets across philosophy, business, and politics. Trained at Harvard and Princeton, Lechterman held research fellowships at Stanford, Goethe University, the Hertie School, and the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI before joining IE in 2022. Annette Zimmermann holds the Interim Chair of Political Philosophy at the University of Bayreuth and is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is the author of Democratizing AI (Manchester University Press, 2026), and her work on the political philosophy of AI and digital technology has appeared in the Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Philosophy & Public Affairs, and Boston Review. As a technology ethics and policy advisor, Zimmermann has advised UNESCO, the OECD, and government agencies in Germany, the UK, and Australia. She received her DPhil from Oxford. Iason Gabriel is Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind and Director for AGI and Society at the DeepMind Institute. His research examines AI alignment, justice, and the values that should guide the development of advanced AI. He has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in AI, profiled on the front page of The Guardian, and named a global ambassador for the papal encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. Gabriel worked for UNDP in Lebanon and Sudan before completing his DPhil at Oxford, where he then taught moral and political philosophy before joining DeepMind. The event will be followed by a networking cocktail. *The IE Tower is easily accessible via public transportation and taxi or rideshare services. Please note that there is no parking on-site. In the case that you require parking, we suggest the following options available in the surrounding area: • Caleido Commercial Center • Interparking Garage at Hospital La Paz