TLDR: Shir Raviv has been awarded the 2025 Harold D. Lasswell Award by the American Political Science Association (APSA) for her doctoral dissertation, ‘The Evolving Politics of Using AI Algorithms in Public Policy Implementation.’ Her work explores the political implications of AI in public services, focusing on public perception of AI-based algorithmic decision-making (ADS) and the challenges of governance.
Shir Raviv, a postdoctoral researcher at the Data Science Institute at Columbia University and a non-resident fellow at the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Harold D. Lasswell Award. This annual award, presented by the American Political Science Association (APSA), recognizes the best doctoral dissertation in the field of public policy. Raviv’s award-winning dissertation is titled ‘The Evolving Politics of Using AI Algorithms in Public Policy Implementation.’
The award committee lauded Raviv’s work for its ‘novel and groundbreaking theoretical and empirical observations on a rapidly emerging – and high-stakes – issue area: the use of artificial intelligence in public services.’ Her research delves into the political ramifications of the swift advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the complexities involved in governing this technology to align with public values and uphold democratic accountability.
Through a series of sophisticated empirical experiments, Raviv’s findings indicate that public evaluations of AI-based algorithmic decision-making (ADS) in the public sector are largely influenced by two key factors: perceived accuracy and fairness. Her research highlights a public aversion to the use of ADS in decisions perceived as punitive towards target populations, as opposed to those designed for assistance. Furthermore, respondents expressed discomfort with ADS when decision-makers are required to make inferences about individuals rather than collective groups. Raviv’s work also demonstrates how public attitudes towards AI in public services can shift with increased engagement or personal experience with these systems. These insights are crucial for determining the appropriate circumstances for deploying AI in public services.
Raviv is currently authoring a book that examines public opinion on the governmental use of AI, specifically identifying the sources of opposition. Her book distinguishes between concerns stemming from misconceptions, which could potentially be addressed through information dissemination, and deeper moral reservations, which are less amenable to change and thus necessitate careful consideration in the design and deployment of AI technology. Her broader research interests encompass political behavior, experimental methods, and survey design, with her work published in esteemed journals such as the Journal of Politics and Political Science Research and Methods.
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Shir Raviv earned her PhD in Political Science from Tel Aviv University in 2024, under the guidance of Professors Yotam Margalit (Chair), Alexander Kuo, and Neil Malhotra. In Fall 2025, she is set to join the faculty at Tel Aviv University as an Assistant Professor of Political Science.
