The Bertelsmann Stiftung's new Policy Brief uses 50 case studies from 22 countries to illustrate how AI can support citizen participation and to identify the risks that must be considered. The study was conducted in collaboration with the OECD.
GÜTERSLOH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 26 August 2026 – Artificial intelligence (AI) offers enormous potential to better deliver on the key promises of political citizen participation: broader inclusion, genuine openness, user-friendly processes and scalable processes. Governments and civil society actors around the world are already using AI for this purpose: from analysing large volumes of citizen input to supporting participation processes through chatbots, moderation systems and AI-assisted moderation.
This is demonstrated in the new Policy Brief "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation," which is based on a joint paper by the OECD and the Bertelsmann Stiftung and examines 50 specific cases of the application of AI from 22 countries.
Overall, the findings show that AI can make citizen participation more accessible, scalable and effective. However, its true value very much depends on how it is used. AI can only strengthen participation if it improves governments' ability to listen to citizens without replacing democratic judgement, transparency and trust.
Nine types of AI applications
The study identifies nine different areas where AI can be applied in citizen participation: sense-making, information development, translation, transcription, virtual assistance, facilitation, moderation, simulation and participation architecture. Sense-making, virtual assistance and automated translation are particularly widespread at present.
Sense-making applications can analyse large volumes of ideas and comments, identify patterns and summarize contributions. Translation and transcription tools can reduce barriers to access. Virtual assistants, such as chatbots, help citizens access information and participation opportunities more easily.
Relevant examples demonstrate how this works in practice, such as the one in Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where an AI tool in 2024 supported the analysis of qualitative contributions from a public consultation and reduced the time needed by about 50 percent. In Finland in 2024, the Finnish innovation agency Sitra used the AIpowered platform Polis to enable over 18,000 people to participate in the public consultation "What do you think, Finland?"
Opportunities and Risks
In addition to the considerable opportunities, the use of AI also carries risks. Biased data can influence results, and a lack of transparency can undermine trust and legitimacy. In addition, there is a risk of new forms of digital exclusion. Other challenges include a lack of AI expertise in public institutions and dependence on proprietary systems – that is, closed technologies whose source code, interfaces or formats are under the sole control of a manufacturer.
To ensure that AI supports civic participation in a responsible and inclusive manner, the Policy Brief offers recommendations in three areas: guardrails, enablers and public engagement. Governments should establish clear guardrails, build capacity for the responsible use of AI and involve citizens in the design and oversight of these systems.
Ultimately, AI is, of course, no substitute for democratic participation. However, when used responsibly, it can help make participation more accessible, scalable and responsive.
About the publication
The Policy Brief is a condensed version of the OECD paper "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation: Typology of applications, opportunities and challenges for democratic innovations," based on a collaboration between the OECD and the Bertelsmann Stiftung.
Download link for the study: https://www.bertelsmann-
stiftung.de/de/publikationen/publikation/did/artificial-intelligence-and-the-future-ofcitizen-participation
EN: Policy Brief 07/2026: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Hong Kong SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 August 2026 - MicroBit Capital Management Limited ("MicroBit"), a Hong Kong-based investment manager specialising in virtual assets and frontier technologies, today announced the listing of the MicroBit Bitcoin and Gold Value ETF (HKD Counter: 3002.HK; USD Counter: 9002.HK) on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKEX").
MicroBit Group CEO (right 1) and COO (left 1) striking the Gong
The ETF is Hong Kong's first to offer exposure to both bitcoin and gold, offering a diversified approach across two value asset classes.
The Fund combines bitcoin's long-term digital-asset potential with gold's role as a store of value, offering diversified exposure in a single ETF. Gold may help stabilize overall portfolio volatility. The ETF also supports in-kind subscriptions and redemptions in bitcoin, while in-kind bitcoin subscriptions and redemptions provide eligible market participants with added flexibility.
Wilson Fung, Chief Executive Officer of MicroBit Group, said: " We are proud to launch Hong Kong's first Bitcoin and Gold ETF. By combining bitcoin's digital-asset potential with gold's established role as a store of value, the Fund offers investors a forward-looking, diversified allocation tool. This launch marks an important milestone in MicroBit's mission to bridge traditional finance and the Web3 ecosystem."
MicroBit will continue to explore innovative investment solutions and is committed to providing investors with a broader range of innovative and diversified investment tools.
Important Information:
Investment involves risks. Past performance does not represent future performance. The price of the fund may go up or down. Investors may suffer all or significant investment losses. Investors should not make any investment decisions solely based on this information. Please note that the investment risks listed below are not exhaustive. Investors should carefully read the prospectus, product key factsheet and relevant documents before making any investment decisions to understand details including product characteristics, risk factors and distribution policies, and seek for independent financial advice when necessary.
MicroBit Bitcoin & Gold Value ETF (the "Sub-Fund") is a sub-fund of MicroBit Funds Series (Hong Kong) ETF OFC (the "Company"). The investment objective of the Sub-Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation by providing diversified exposure to both digital and traditional store-of-value assets, namely bitcoin and gold. There can be no assurance that the Sub-Fund will achieve its investment objective.
MicroBit Bitcoin & Gold Value ETF could be subject to certain key risks such as Investment risk; Active investment management risk; Risks relating to bitcoin (including Bitcoin and bitcoin industry risk, Speculative nature risk, Extremely high volatility risk, Unforeseeable risk, Acceptance of bitcoin, Concentration of ownership risk, Fraud, market manipulation and security failure risk, Cybersecurity risks, Potential manipulation of Bitcoin Network risk, Regulatory risk, Internet risk, Fork risk, Virtual Assets' trading platform risk in general and contagion risk, Risk of illicit use, Environment and energy consumption risk, Political or economic crisis risk, etc.); Gold market risk; Futures contracts risks; Bitcoin and gold concentration risk; New product risk; Risks in relation to Virtual Asset Trading Platform(s); Custody risk; Differences in dealing arrangements between Listed and Unlisted Classes of Shares; Differences in cost mechanisms between Listed and Unlisted Classes of Shares risk; Trading risk; Trading hours differences risk; Reliance on market makers risk; Early termination risk; Multi-counter risk.
The above products have been authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC"). Authorization by the SFC does not imply official recommendation. This material is for reference only and does not constitute an offer or suggestion of any transaction in any products.
This material is prepared by MicroBit Capital Management Limited and has not been reviewed by the SFC. If you are in any doubt about the content of this material, please refer to the prospectus, product key facts statement and other relevant documents for details, and seek for independent financial advice when necessary.
MicroBit does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. All materials are presented "as is", without any warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Unless otherwise specified, some of the views and recommendations are compiled by MicroBit based on publicly available data and market experience.
Copyright © 2026 MicroBit Capital Management Limited. All rights reserved.
Hashtag: #MicroBit#Cryptocurrency#Gold#HongKong#ETF#Investment
https://www.microbit.ai/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/microbit-capital/?viewAsMember=true
https://x.com/microbitcapital?s=11
Wechat: 小飞资产MicroBit Capital
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
MicroBit Capital Management Limited
MicroBit Capital Management Limited is a premier Hong Kong-based investment manager specialising in thematic investing across virtual assets and frontier technologies. We are committed to delivering innovative investment solutions to institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and retail investors, empowering them to diversify portfolios and capture the transformative potential of virtual assets and frontier technologies.
MicroBit is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC) for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management) regulated activities, and is subject to additional terms and conditions for Virtual Asset Fund Managers (VAFMs) imposed by the SFC ("VAFM T&Cs"). Welcome to visit our website for further details: https://www.microbit.ai/en/.
** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
