At Jigsaw we recognize that we're more connected than ever before, to information and to each other. Yet many of us still feel disconnected from the decisions and systems that affect our lives.

We call this a deficit in structural agency—the divide between the desire to shape our world and the ability to do so. We believe that AI can help bridge this gap.

Fifteen years ago Google created Jigsaw to innovate in ways that benefit society. In that time, we've learned that true insight comes not just from understanding the big picture trends of billions of users, but also how technology impacts our deepest human needs and vulnerabilities. Where we have been most successful is through partnerships that have enabled us to understand how the broad landscape is changing but also what it feels like to live through that change too.

We have used these insights to build free tools to give people voice and choice in the world around them. For example, we have helped tens of millions of people around the world get online when they would otherwise have been shut out of the internet, enabled governments and media to defend against cyberattacks designed to take them offline, and provided a thousand platforms the tools to host online conversations of all kinds.

Our approach and past work help prepare us for the challenge we're confronting today: to seize the AI era to strengthen, rather than undermine, human agency.

Our work in Bowling Green, Kentucky, earlier this year points to what’s possible. There, local leaders hosted an AI-enabled town hall, one of the largest in U.S. history, that invited every resident into a conversation to shape the changes affecting their city. The experience left leaders confident they understood what people want and left residents inspired that using their voice will lead to a better future.

We’re now doubling down on civic conversations as one way to provide people with greater agency to shape the world around them. As part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, we’re using AI to support a nation-wide conversation to better understand the opinions of Americans on the country's founding ideals and its future.

​Our exploration of how AI can enhance structural agency extends beyond civic conversations and you can expect to hear more from us as we go. We will continue to share our research, insights, datasets and code. We don’t pretend to have all the answers here at Jigsaw, and we know that you or your organization might very well be the “missing piece” of the puzzle. Our work is not an end, but a starting point—a proof-of-concept for building a future where everyone has more agency in the world around them.

To join us on our journey of understanding and innovation, you can follow us on Medium.