Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders at the Cambridge Public Library

Schedule

Wed Oct 22 2025 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Cambridge Public Library | Cambridge, MA

Advertisement
presenting Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship
About this Event

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Bruce Schneier—internationally renowned security technologist, New York Times bestselling author of A Hacker’s Mind, and Lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School—and Nathan E. Sanders—data scientist and affiliate at the Berkman-Klein Center—for a discussion of their new book Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship.


Ticketing

RSVP for free to this event or choose the "Book-Included" ticket to reserve a copy of Rewiring Democracy and pick it up at the event. Following the presentation will be a book signing.

Note: Books bundled with tickets may only be picked up at the venue the night of the event, and cannot be picked up in-store beforehand. Ticket holders who purchased a book-included ticket and are unable to attend the event will be able to pick up their book at Harvard Book Store up to 30 days following the event. This offer expires after 30 days. Please note we cannot guarantee signed copies will be available to ticket holders who do not attend the event.


About Rewiring Democracy

From the New York Times–bestselling author of The Hacker's Mind and Data & Goliath, an informative and wide-ranging exploration of how AI will alter every facet of democracy, and how to harness the technology to distribute rather than concentrate power.AI is changing democracy. We still get to decide how.AI’s impact on democracy will go far beyond headline-grabbing political deepfakes and automated misinformation. Everywhere it will be used, it will create risks and opportunities to shake up long-standing power structures.In this highly readable and advisedly optimistic book, Rewiring Democracy, security technologist Bruce Schneier and data scientist Nathan Sanders cut through the AI hype and examine the myriad ways that AI is transforming every aspect of democracy—for both good and ill.The authors describe how the sophistication of AI will fulfill demands from lawmakers for more complex legislation, reducing deference to the executive branch and altering the balance of power between lawmakers and administrators. They show how the scale and scope of AI is enhancing civil servants’ ability to shape private-sector behavior, automating either the enforcement or neglect of industry regulations. They also explain how both lawyers and judges will leverage the speed of AI, upending how we think about law enforcement, litigation, and dispute resolution.Whether these outcomes enhance or degrade democracy depends on how we shape the development and use of AI technologies. Powerful players in private industry and public life are already using AI to increase their influence, and AIs built by corporations don’t deliver the fairness and trust required by democratic governance. But, steered in the right direction, AI’s broad capabilities can augment democratic processes and help citizens build consensus, express their voice, and shake up long-standing power structures.Democracy is facing new challenges worldwide, and AI has become a part of that. It can inform, empower, and engage citizens. It can also disinform, disempower, and disengage them. The choice is up to us. Schneier and Sanders blaze the path forward, showing us how we can use AI to make democracy stronger and more participatory.


Bios

Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned security technologist and the New York Times bestselling author of 14 books, including A Hacker’s Mind. He is Lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, a board member of EFF, and Chief of Security Architecture at Inrupt, Inc.

Nathan E. Sanders is a data scientist focused on making policymaking more participatory. His research spans machine learning, astrophysics, public health, environmental justice, and more. He has served in fellowships at the Massachusetts legislature and the Berkman-Klein Center at Harvard University.


Masking Policy

Masks are encouraged but not required for this event.


Co-Sponsors

The Cambridge Public Library serves as a doorway to opportunity, self-development, and recreation for all its residents, and as a forum where they may share ideas, cultures, and resources among themselves and with people around the globe. Learn more at cambridgema.gov/cpl.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 34.40

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Harvard Book Store

Host or Publisher Harvard Book Store

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Cambridge

$10 at 10AM: Hatha Yoga at the Lilypad
Wed, 22 Oct at 10:00 am $10 at 10AM: Hatha Yoga at the Lilypad

The Lilypad

HEALTH-WELLNESS WORKSHOPS
Gallery Talk: Drawing Attention to Detail
Wed, 22 Oct at 12:30 pm Gallery Talk: Drawing Attention to Detail

Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138

ART FINE-ARTS
Making What Matters
Wed, 22 Oct at 05:30 pm Making What Matters

MIT Media Lab

ART BUSINESS
Cambridge City Council Forum at CX
Wed, 22 Oct at 05:30 pm Cambridge City Council Forum at CX

Lamplighter Brewing Co. - Broadway

BUSINESS
Meriem Chabani, "South South Cosmogonies"
Wed, 22 Oct at 06:30 pm Meriem Chabani, "South South Cosmogonies"

Harvard University Graduate School Of Design

VIRTUAL
2025 Volunteer Consulting with Boston-area Non-profit HYBRID Info Session
Wed, 22 Oct at 06:30 pm 2025 Volunteer Consulting with Boston-area Non-profit HYBRID Info Session

MIT Sloan School of Management

wednesdays \/ drawing studio
Wed, 22 Oct at 06:30 pm wednesdays / drawing studio

Still Life Studios

ART FINE-ARTS
Scientist.com R&D Vendor Discovery Day - Boston\/Cambridge
Tue, 21 Oct at 11:00 am Scientist.com R&D Vendor Discovery Day - Boston/Cambridge

Catalyst Restaurant

Security & AI Meetup for Developers and Startups
Tue, 21 Oct at 05:30 pm Security & AI Meetup for Developers and Startups

Venture Café Cambridge, Broadway, Cambridge, MA, USA

ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE MEETUPS
Doublecamp
Tue, 21 Oct at 07:00 pm Doublecamp

Middle East - Upstairs

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Wed, 22 Oct at 09:00 am Attract & Retain Top Tech Skills: 1 Day Workshop | Cambridge, MA

Regus - Cambridge, MA

WORKSHOPS CONTESTS
Making What Matters
Wed, 22 Oct at 05:30 pm Making What Matters

MIT Media Lab

ART BUSINESS
Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders at the Cambridge Public Library
Wed, 22 Oct at 06:00 pm Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders at the Cambridge Public Library

Cambridge Public Library

ART LITERARY-ART
Meriem Chabani, "South South Cosmogonies"
Wed, 22 Oct at 06:30 pm Meriem Chabani, "South South Cosmogonies"

Harvard University Graduate School Of Design

VIRTUAL
Innovare Summit @ Harvard University
Sat, 25 Oct at 09:00 am Innovare Summit @ Harvard University

Harvard University

BUSINESS CONTESTS
Sun, 26 Oct at 11:00 pm Henrik

Middle East - Downstairs

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
The Measure of Freedom and Unfreedom
Wed, 29 Oct at 06:30 pm The Measure of Freedom and Unfreedom

Harvard University Graduate School Of Design

VIRTUAL
Ai Tech Mixer Boston 2025
Thu, 30 Oct at 06:00 pm Ai Tech Mixer Boston 2025

Grafton Street Pub & Grill

BUSINESS ART

What's Happening Next in Cambridge?

Discover Cambridge Events