Data doesn’t just reflect communities — it can help shape more inclusive, constructive conversations. We’re joined by Russell Stevens, Head of Strategy and Development at the MIT Center for Constructive Communication, to explore how qualitative data, storytelling and ethical AI design can bridge gaps in society and decision-making. Russell shares how his team moved beyond traditional media analytics to build a platform that amplifies unheard voices through small-group conversations. He explains why trust, local context and human-in-the-loop sense-making are critical for turning narratives into actionable insight.

Key Takeaways:

(03:50) MIT used early language models to analyze media data and gauge public opinion.

(09:27) Ingesting more data only amplified the loudest voices, not diverse perspectives.

(18:31) Peer-led talks in Newark schools revealed stories that would never be revealed to adults.

(24:55) Like Tamr, the process uses humans to guide AI through iterative coding.

(30:40) Radical transparency and consent are core to ethical data use.

(37:07) Hearing humanity in others is essential to overcoming division.

(41:32) Replacing people with AI personas is a rejected dystopian shortcut.

(43:12) Without humanity, all you’re left with is empty thematic summaries.

Resources Mentioned:

Russell Stevens

https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell5mit/

MIT Center for Constructive Communication | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cccatmit/

MIT Center for Constructive Communication | Website

https://www.ccc.mit.edu/

Cortico

https://cortico.ai/

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