Giving Up Control to Gain It Back
An Investigation of the AI Autonomy Paradox in Digital Sovereignty
In the modern data economy, the cognitive overload of managing data permissions often leads to a practical loss of digital sovereignty, a phenomenon known as the “Autonomy Paradox.” This research challenges the inevitability of this paradox by asking:
Can the intentional act of delegating control to a proactive AI agent actually lead to a gain in a user’s effective autonomy?
To test this question, we are developing a novel browser extension that implements a three-level experimental design. By evaluating the underlying mechanisms through a psychological (Self-Determination Theory) lense, this research aims to provide a constructive solution to the Autonomy Paradox and offer a design framework for empowering AI agents.
Working Paper.