In January 2026, the Multiracial Democracy Project (MDP) at GW Law launched its Emerging Technologies Initiative and welcomed Dr. Dhanaraj Thakur as its inaugural Director.
This new initiative reflects MDP’s growing body of work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, civil rights, and democracy, and underscores a core belief: without intentional safeguards, AI will not be neutral. Instead, AI systems risk reflecting and amplifying the inequities already embedded in our political, social, and economic systems. Through this initiative, MDP is working to ensure that technological advancement aligns with civil rights protections and strengthens multiracial democracy.
As part of this effort, MDP is partnering with the Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics' Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic at GW Law to advance research on the civil rights implications of AI. Led by Professor Arturo Carrillo and Dr. Thakur, this collaboration is focused on developing a civil rights assessment framework for state-level AI legislation—an increasingly urgent need as most AI policymaking is occurring at the state level.
This work builds on the longstanding leadership of MDP Founder and Faculty Director Spencer Overton, whose scholarship and public engagement have helped shape national conversations on technology, race, and democracy. Through recent work such as Overcoming Racial Harms to Democracy from Artificial Intelligence, Analyzing the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence to Racially Inclusive Democracy, and Ethnonationalism by Algorithm, Overton advances a framework for understanding both the risks and potential benefits of AI in democratic systems. As artificial intelligence continues to transform core institutions, MDP is expanding on this foundation to develop actionable research, inform policy, and equip civil rights organizations with the tools needed to navigate an increasingly technological landscape.
On March 12 and 13, MDP co-hosted the Antidiscrimination Law & AI Convening at Stanford Law School, in partnership with the Stanford Center for Racial Justice and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice at Harvard Law School. The convening brought together leading scholars, technologists, civil rights advocates, and policymakers to foster cross-sector dialogue on how antidiscrimination law must evolve in response to the rise of artificial intelligence. Professor Overton delivered both the opening and closing remarks, Dr. Thakur co-facilitated a session at the convening, and Executive Director Lisa Bornstein played a central role in shaping the vision and execution of the conference, reinforcing MDP’s leadership at the intersection of democracy, racial justice, and technology. Professor Carrillo and GW Law student Victoriana Smith also represented GW Law at the convening.
The conference was a resounding success, creating space for leading experts to engage deeply on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. Participants explored how these technologies can both exacerbate and help address inequality, examining ways to strengthen legal frameworks, improve the detection and proof of discrimination, and ensure that innovation advances rather than undermines civil rights protections.
Looking ahead, MDP is excited to continue engaging the GW Law community and broader field in this work. In the coming months, the Project will offer research assistant opportunities, host panels, and finalize its three year plan.