Agency in the Age of AI

2025-02-02

AI Summary

This study addresses the profound impact of generative AI on human and societal agency—manifested in power asymmetries, accountability dilution, and erosion of autonomy. Methodologically, it establishes *agency* as the central analytical paradigm for assessing AI’s societal effects, integrating philosophical action theory, computational social science, multi-agent modeling, and AI ethics. It introduces the first conceptual model for evaluating agency gains and losses, identifying three canonical mechanisms of agency deprivation. The project advances an interdisciplinary theoretical trajectory for agency and achieves its first formal instantiation within agent-based modeling frameworks. These contributions provide a rigorous, actionable theoretical anchor and methodological foundation for designing AI governance policies and systemic interventions. (124 words)

Technology Category

• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Societal Impact of AI
• Multiagent Systems: Agent/AI Theories and Architectures
• Humans and AI: Understanding People, Theories, Concepts and Methods

Application Category

• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic ramifications for generative AI infrastructure and applications

Abstract

There is significant concern about the impact of generative AI on society. Modern AI tools are capable of generating ever more realistic text, images, and videos, and functional code, from minimal prompts. Accompanying this rise in ability and usability, there is increasing alarm about the misuses to which these tools can be put, and the intentional and unintentional harms to individuals and society that may result. In this paper, we argue that emph{agency} is the appropriate lens to study these harms and benefits, but that doing so will require advancement in the theory of agency, and advancement in how this theory is applied in (agent-based) models.

Problem

• Generative AI
• Societal Impact
• Agent-based Modeling

Innovation

• Generative AI
• Agency Modeling
• AI Ethics