Dr. Medlir Mema, Director of the AI Ethics and Governance Institute (AEGIX), participated in the Utah Solutions Forum on September 18-19, 2026. Organized by Utah Common Ground, the event brought together 40 Utahns from Cache, Salt Lake, and Utah Counties to consider how citizens can help shape decisions about artificial intelligence.
AEGIX also prepared the forum’s Citizen Briefing Book: Artificial Intelligence & Public Accountability, providing a foundation for informed discussion about AI technologies, their implications, and the public’s role in their governance.
Ahead of the forum, Dr. Mema emphasized that conversations about AI’s future must extend beyond technology companies, policymakers, and technical experts. As AI changes how people work, learn, communicate, and make decisions, communities need meaningful opportunities to raise questions, express concerns, and influence decisions affecting their lives.
The forum brought people with different experiences and perspectives together to listen, learn, and work toward practical solutions. The purpose was to create the conditions for thoughtful and constructive civic dialogue, while allowing space for disagreement.
To support this process, AEGIX’s briefing book introduced key AI concepts, examined potential benefits and risks, and outlined the policy landscape in Utah, the United States, and internationally. It also explored public consultation, AI’s energy requirements, and the trade-offs surrounding its effects on workplaces, education, natural resources, and public spending.
Through its participation and research contribution, AEGIX supported an effort to give citizens a meaningful voice in AI governance and connect policy discussions with the priorities of the communities affected.