Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI ing new forms and modes of public opinion formation. However, the basic structure and function of the pub- lic sphere remain the same, as they are based on the universal and normative principles of communicative rationality and democratic legitimacy, which are not contingent on the specific media and technologies that mediate them. Interviewer: So, you both acknowledge the ambiva- lent and complex impact of internet technologies on the public sphere, but you disagree on the degree and nature of their transformation. How do you explain this difference in your perspectives, and what are the implications for your theories and proposals for demo- cratic reform? Young: I think that the difference in our perspectives stems from our different understandings of the public sphere and its relation to democracy. Habermas has a more idealized and homogenous view of the public sphere, as a unified and rational space of consensus and integration, where citizens can transcend their particular interests and identities and reach a common under- standing and will. I have a more realistic and pluralistic view of the public sphere, as a diverse and contested space of difference and conflict, where citizens can express and negotiate their multiple interests and iden- tities and reach a mutual recognition and respect. There- fore, I think that internet technologies have not only modified, but also diversified and pluralized the public sphere, by creating new spaces and modes of commu- nication that reflect and accommodate the complexity and heterogeneity of contemporary societies. This has implications for my theory and proposal for democratic reform, as I advocate for a more inclusive and dialogical model of democracy, that recognizes and engages with the plurality and interdependence of publics. 170