'Disrupting Politics' details Green Bay native's experiences in D.C. tech with eye on AI

September 25, 2026 - 04:51

For more than twenty years, a Green Bay native has held a front row seat in Washington D.C. at the intersection of technology and politics. Katie Harbath has spent 23 years working in the nation's capital, watching how digital platforms reshape the way people engage with government and elections. Her career spans key roles at Facebook and other major tech companies, where she helped craft policies around elections, civic engagement, and content moderation. Now she is sharing those experiences in a new project titled "Disrupting Politics," which examines the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the democratic process.

Harbath grew up in Green Bay before moving east to build a career that few could have predicted when she first arrived in D.C. She witnessed the rise of social media as a political tool, the spread of misinformation, and the intense scrutiny that followed. Through it all, she says the pace of change never slowed. Her latest focus is on AI, which she believes will transform campaigning, voter outreach, and even how laws get written. She cautions that without careful oversight, these tools could deepen divisions or erode trust. At the same time, she sees potential for AI to make government more responsive and efficient if leaders approach it with clear rules and public accountability. Her message to those back home in Wisconsin is simple: pay attention, because what happens in D.C. tech circles eventually reaches every community.