AI and the Future of Democracy

Narasimha Rao Vajjhala is an academic and researcher currently serving as Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). He is also the Principal Investigator for the Democracy Project (DemPro) at the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) at AUBG. Dr. Vajjhala previously held leadership roles as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the University of New York Tirana (UNYT) in Albania and Chair of the Computer Science and Software Engineering programs at the American University of Nigeria (AUN). With over 23 years of experience in academia, he has taught programming, database management, and related courses across Europe and Africa at both undergraduate and graduate levels. An active contributor to the global research community, Dr. Vajjhala is a Senior Member of ACM and IEEE, Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Risk and Contingency Management (IJRCM), and a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Beyond academia, he has worked as a technology consultant for European firms and has been actively involved in EU-funded projects. Dr. Vajjhala holds a Doctorate in Information Systems and Technology from the United States, a Master of Science in Computer Science and Applications from India, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) specializing in Information Systems from Switzerland. His expertise spans computer science, project management, and information systems, making significant contributions to both research and industry.

Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob is the Panitza Memorial Endowed Executive Director of the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship at the American University in Bulgaria. His career spans academia, policy advisory, and international development, including roles as Dean of Graduate School and Research at the American University of Nigeria and positions at New York University's Center on International Cooperation and Dickinson College, Pennsylvania. A recognized authority in strategic communication for peace operations, Dr. Jacob led the international team revising the UN's policy on strategic communications in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. He holds a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Leeds and an MA in Peace Studies from Lancaster University. Dr. Jacob has advised the World Bank, US Institute of Peace, and the UN's Department of Peace Operations on information's role in democratic stability and conflict transformation.

Author Bios

Amaresh Jha is a seasoned media professional and educator with a distinguished career spanning journalism, academia, and research. He currently heads the Media Cluster of the School of Liberal Studies and Media at UPES, Dehradun. With professional stints at leading Indian news networks like Zee News, News Express, and India TV, Dr. Jha has cultivated expertise in reporting, producing, and managing news content.

Anil Kumar Kotha is an accomplished Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Management at VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad. He has approximately 29 years of teaching experience. He holds an M.Com from Kakatiya University, Warangal, an MBA from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, an M.Phil from Annamalai University, and a Ph.D. in Finance from Rayalaseema University, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Kotha has an extensive research portfolio, including 12 publications in national and international journals and over 10 presentations at national and international conferences. He also holds patents to his credit. His primary research interest lies in the areas of Banking and Finance. He is an active member of the Indian Commerce Association (ICA) and the Commerce and Management Association of India (CMAI).

Antonio Garcia, CGeog, FRGS, PMP, is a historian and interdisciplinary scholar working across a wide range of research areas, including war, peace, business, international relations and strategy. He is a research fellow in the Department of Military History at Stellenbosch University, on the faculty of Business and Law at The Open University, and a visiting lecturer in international relations and peacekeeping at Durham University. He has authored, co-authored, and co-edited five books. His recent manuscript, Botha, Smuts and the First World War (with Ian van der Waag), was longlisted for the Templar Prize. His narrative non-fiction work, Number 788 (with Max Lauker), received first place in the Frontline Military Book Awards and has been translated into Swedish. His latest publication, Silencing the Guns in Africa (co-edited with Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob), has received favorable reviews. His forthcoming book, Command, is being finalized.

Assel Jumasseitova is a Professor at the Business School of Kazakh-British Technical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. An accomplished economist, her academic work lies at the intersection of international economics, regional trade agreements, development economics, and business management. Dr. Jumasseitova's current research focuses on the application of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within the context of Kazakhstan's evolving economic landscape and broader regional integration efforts. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges theoretical insights with practical implications for sustainable economic development in Central Asia.

Georgi A. Angelov was born in the town of Smolyan. He graduated in Russian Language and Literature and Journalism from Plovdiv University. He began his journalistic career in 2002 in the Smolyan newspaper "Otzyv" and at "Maritsa" in Plovdiv. He later worked as an editor and reporter at several national newspapers in Sofia, covering topics such as parliament, government, foreign relations, and defense. In the last ten years, his focus has shifted to hybrid warfare and disinformation. His most recent positions have been at dnevnik.bg, offnews.bg, and the Bulgarian bureaus of DW (Deutsche Welle) and RFE/RL (Svobodnaevropa.bg). His articles have been translated into dozens of languages. He has attended courses on solutions journalism, fact-checking, OSINT, data analysis, and AI organized by AEJ, AFP, Polis - the journalism think-tank at the London School of Economics, and the Knight Center at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a three-time recipient of the Bulgarian Web Report Award for Clean Journalism (2020, 2022, and 2025). Since November 2024, he has been a senior analyst in the disinformation department at Sensika Technologies

Lohith Sekhar Potluri is a full-time Data Scientist at the School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, USA. He holds a Master's degree in Data Science and is an active researcher with a strong focus on data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and applied statistics. Mr. Potluri has authored several peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters, and conference papers in these domains. He is proficient in analytical tools and programming languages such as R (RStudio), SQL, and SAS. His contributions to the field have been recognized with four Best Paper and Academic Excellence Awards at international conferences. He is currently involved in three ongoing research projects.

Madhavi Kilaru, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities & Sciences at VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad, has about 17 years of teaching experience. She received her BA degree in Mathematics & Statistics and MBA in Marketing & HR from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. She received a Ph.D degree in Marketing from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India. She has published 25 research papers in refereed international journals and 30 in various national and international conference proceedings. She also published patents. Her research areas include Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Consumer Behavior, Artificial Intelligence, and Business Analytics. She is an active member of the Commerce and Management Association of India (CMAI).

Mukashev Erzhan Bulatovich is the Dean and an Associate Professor at the School of Business, Kazakh-British Technical University, Kazakhstan. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Maryland, USA. With over two decades of academic and research experience, Dr. Mukashev has established himself as a prolific scholar, contributing extensively through peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters, and presentations at international conferences. His expertise spans various domains within economics and business, and his work reflects a commitment to academic excellence and thought leadership. Dr. Mukashev's international academic background and professional experience in multicultural and multi-ethnic environments have significantly enhanced his capacity to foster global collaborations and lead administrative functions with efficiency and cultural sensitivity. His leadership continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the internationalization and academic reputation of his institution.

Nicholas Iwokwagh is a distinguished academic in the field of Information and Media Technology at the School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT), Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. He previously served as the Dean of SICT and was the founding Director of the International Centre for Emerging Technology (ICET) at the same institution in Niger State, Nigeria.

Nisha Sachdeva is an experienced lawyer with over seven years of practice in matrimonial disputes, civil law, consumer law, and SARFAESI Act matters. Specializing in complex cases such as divorce, alimony, custody disputes, and property conflicts, she provides strategic legal solutions backed by meticulous research and empathetic client advocacy. Holding an LLM from Amity University, Nisha is also a researcher and author, with works like "Life Insurance and Grievances Redressal Mechanism". She actively engages with the Just AI community.

Parineeta Goswami is an Assistant Professor of Law at UPES, Dehradun, specializing in Corporate Law, Banking Law, Insurance Law, and Insolvency Law. She has over five years of experience in academia. She holds a Ph.D. from RGNUL and has been awarded the JRF by the UGC. Dr. Goswami has authored 4 textbooks, 2 edited books and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including Scopus and UGC CARE-listed publications.

Paul Obagwu Uko is a scholar of Journalism and Media Studies at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria, and hails from Benue State. His areas of expertise encompass Development Journalism, New Media, and Artificial Intelligence, with a particular focus on Machine Learning applications. Dr. Uko has published extensively in reputable international journals and has contributed chapters to several internationally recognized academic books.

Prathyusha Bandla serves as an Assistant Professor and Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Management in the Department of Mathematics and Management Sciences at VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad. She has an impressive academic and research portfolio, with nine research papers published in reputed international journals and ten papers presented at national and international conferences. Additionally, she holds a patent and has contributed six book chapters on diverse topics, including stress management, inclusive education, and online education. Dr. Prathyusha's research interests span Human Resource (HR) Analytics, Emotional Intelligence, Training and Development, and Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace.

Rajasekhara Mouly Potluri holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Management/Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Organizational Behavior from Shivaji University, India. He also holds an MBA in Marketing and a Master of Commerce (M.Com.) in Banking from Andhra University, India. Throughout his extensive academic career, Prof. Potluri has authored and presented approximately 150 scholarly works, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, and case studies. His publications appear in esteemed outlets indexed in Scopus, ABDC, SSCI, IEEE, and KCI, and have been featured at numerous international conferences. He has been recognized with over twenty-five awards for Best Research Paper and Academic Service Excellence. Prof. Potluri has taught and conducted research in diverse, multicultural academic environments, including appointments in India, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates-where he is a recipient of the prestigious Golden Visa. His research interests encompass marketing, Islamic marketing, corporate and consumer social responsibility (CSR/CDR), sustainability, human resource management, organizational behavior, and entrepreneurship with a focus on small business management. He is an active member of several notable professional organizations, including the Eurasian Business and Economics Society, International Islamic Marketing Association, Social Responsibility Research Network, International Society for Development and Sustainability, Emerald Literati Network, and the Consumer Guidance Society of India.

Sanjeev Singh is one of India's leading digital broadcast leaders with over 23 years as a journalist, editor, and multimedia content producer in senior positions in Digital, TV, and Print before moving to academia. He was previously Professor, and Associate Dean, School of Modern Media, UPES Dehradun where his primary work involved revamping the curriculum, building a futuristic digital studio, imparting industry ready skills to students, and handling international partnerships.

Tim Hildebrandt is a PhD candidate and Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the University of Duisburg Essen. He also serves as a Research Associate at Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences. Mr. Hildebrandt holds master's degrees in political science and business administration. He has worked with public and private institutions in Brussels, Skopje, Moscow, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Shanghai.

Theodoros Falelakis is a Ph.D. candidate at the Law School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in civil and civil procedural law with a focus on new technologies and private dispute resolution. He holds an LL.M. in European Business and Economic Law from the same university. A qualified attorney-at-law and member of the Thessaloniki Bar Association, he has authored multiple publications on intersection of technology and law.

Xiao Wei is a postdoctoral researcher in the field of computer science, with a special interest in artificial intelligence, computer vision, explainable AI, and hybrid intelligence. She has published several works related to these areas and is currently affiliated with the Institute of Computer Science at Osnabrueck University. Driven by a strong passion for research, she continues to contribute valuable insights to the academic community.