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Vinson Centre News

New AI Initiative Launched to Rebalance Economic Discourse: The Mainline Economics AI Project

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The University of Buckingham has launched The Mainline Economics AI Project, a new initiative aimed at broadening and rebalancing economic discourse. Developed by the Vinson Centre, the School of Computing, and the Institute of Economic Affairs, with support from Summerleaze Ltd, the project uses a fine-tuned Large Language Model (LLM) trained on classical-liberal and heterodox economic literature. Its goal is to provide high-quality, well-sourced answers for academics, journalists, policymakers, and the public—free from the narrow assumptions of mainstream economic models. The AI will draw on insights from traditions such as Austrian, Public Choice, and New Institutional Economics, building a diverse repository of knowledge. Emphasising intellectual pluralism and ideological transparency, the project supports research, teaching, and policy analysis. Leaders involved describe it as a groundbreaking blend of AI innovation and educational mission, designed to restore neglected insights and foster a richer understanding of fundamental economic ideas.