GICS-Empowering People to Act
At the Global Innovation Coop Summit, this workshop explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to empower people rather than replace them — helping cooperatives make smarter, fairer, and more transparent decisions.  Participants discussed how data-driven insights can strengthen cooperative governance, reveal hidden patterns, and support ethical decision-making rooted in democratic values. The goal: to ensure that technology enhances participation, accountability, and inclusion.  The question for all of us now is: how can cooperatives use AI to empower members and strengthen trust through data transparency?

How can AI and data-driven tools help cooperatives improve decision-making, transparency, and accountability while keeping people at the centre?

Here are some things to consider in the discussion:
Challenge:  What fears or misconceptions limit the adoption of AI in cooperatives — and how can we overcome them without compromising democratic control?
Opportunities:  How might cooperatives use data insights to identify new opportunities, reduce bias, or improve responsiveness to member needs?
Intercooperation and Innovation:  How can cooperatives collaborate to build shared, ethical data infrastructures or AI tools that reflect cooperative principles of openness, equity, and participation?