The Rutgers Democracy Lab at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick has named Professor of Library and Information Science Vivek Singh the recipient of a Rutgers Democracy Lab Faculty & Staff Fellowship for the 2026-2027 academic year.
“The Library and Information Studies Department and SC&I congratulate Professor Vivek Singh on his selection as an RDL Fellow for 2026/2027,” said Chair and Associate Professor Rebecca Reynolds. “AI tools are becoming increasingly embedded in how people access information and participate in public life. More research on systems-specific intermediation in politics and the democratic process is essential. With the midterm elections approaching, this project is especially timely. We are looking forward to the new discoveries and interventions that emerge from this work, and very proud of our dear colleague Vivek for being named for this prestigious recognition and leadership role. We are wishing him warmly on the important work ahead, and also the learning opportunities that emerge for students as well."
RDL selected Singh based on the strength of his proposed RDL Fellowship project, “Guardrails for Democracy: Evaluating Election-Related Safety Mechanisms in Large Language Models Across the Political Spectrum,” and his potential to contribute to the RDL community.
Singh’s project will examine how major AI platforms implement safeguards intended to prevent harmful uses while supporting legitimate political discussion.
“I am honored to join this year's RDL Democracy Fellows cohort,” Singh said. “I look forward to learning from fellow scholars while conducting research that helps policymakers, journalists, and the public better understand the role of AI in democratic communication.”
I hope these audiences benefit from independent evidence about how AI systems handle politically sensitive content and what that means for democratic communication. The findings can help inform public conversations about responsible AI development and the future role of these technologies in civic life.
Vivek Singh
Singh will conduct the project with a student researcher, evaluating how leading AI systems respond to election-related requests and political content. “Throughout the year,” Singh said, “we will analyze patterns in how these systems behave and identify areas where safeguards appear effective, inconsistent, or in need of further study.”
The goal of the project is to make the results accessible not only to researchers but also to journalists, educators, policymakers, civic organizations, and members of the public.
“I hope these audiences benefit from independent evidence about how AI systems handle politically sensitive content and what that means for democratic communication,” Singh said. “The findings can help inform public conversations about responsible AI development and the future role of these technologies in civic life.”
Singh will share the project’s findings through Rutgers Democracy Lab events, public reports, academic publications, conference presentations, and public-facing summaries written for broader audiences.
The RDL Fellowship is designed to foster interdisciplinary exchange across the Rutgers community on issues related to democracy, civic engagement, public discourse, community participation, and democratic leadership; provide support to RDL Fellows as they complete year-long projects; and cultivate a campus-wide community of democratic practice.
