In an era where human activities profoundly impact the planet, there is an increasing recognition of the need to include the more-than-human world—comprising animals, ecosystems, and natural entities—in governance processes. Integrating AI agents, blockchain technology, and deliberative practices offer in my view a promising pathway to amplify the voices of these non-human stakeholders and ensure that their interests are considered in decision-making. In the other way, it can allow Humans to have a solid set of tools to integrate their Non-Human counterparts in decisions to be made.

AI Agents as Advocates

Artificial Intelligence agents can serve as intermediaries that interpret and represent the needs of the natural world. Equipped with sensors and data analytics, AI can monitor environmental indicators such as biodiversity levels, climate patterns, and habitat health. For instance, machine learning algorithms can analyze the stress levels in coral reefs or deforestation rates in rainforests, translating these insights into actionable information.

These AI agents can act as advocates for ecosystems by presenting data-driven arguments in governance processes. They can participate in policy deliberations, offering evidence-based recommendations that reflect the state of the environment. By doing so, they help bridge the communication gap between human decision-makers and the natural world.

Deliberation as a Democratic Process

Deliberation involves inclusive and reasoned discussion aimed at reaching consensus. Incorporating AI agents into deliberative democracy expands the participant base to include non-human interests. AI agents representing the more-than-human world can engage in dialogues with human stakeholders, presenting ecological concerns and negotiating outcomes that balance human and environmental needs.

This approach fosters a more holistic governance model where decisions are made after considering diverse perspectives. Deliberative processes enriched with AI and blockchain technology can lead to more sustainable and equitable policies that respect the intrinsic value of the natural world.

Blockchain for Transparency and Trust

Blockchain technology complements AI agents and Deliberative processes by providing a secure and transparent platform for recording environmental data and governance decisions. The decentralized nature of blockchain ensures that information about the more-than-human world is tamper-proof and accessible to all stakeholders. They can also help securing a diverse sortition of participants. In some scenario they can also help connect the minipublics of deliberation with the maxipublic and could help enforce decisions.

Synergizing Technologies for Inclusive Governance

The convergence of AI agents, blockchain, and deliberation creates a robust framework for inclusive governance:

• Representation: AI agents give a voice to the more-than-human world by interpreting environmental data and participating in policy discussions.

• Transparency: Blockchain ensures that all transactions and decisions are recorded transparently, building trust among stakeholders.

• Deliberation: guarantees that decisions are cognitively strong and includes AI-represented non-human interests.

Challenges

Of course this vision needs careful consideration. The following challenges seem particularly important to address:

• Ethical Frameworks: Establishing ethical guidelines to govern AI behavior and decision-making is crucial to prevent biases and ensure fairness.

• Data Integrity: Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of environmental data collected by sensors and processed by AI agents.

• Technological Accessibility: Making these advanced technologies accessible to all communities to prevent widening the digital divide.

Conclusion and next steps

By harnessing AI agents, blockchain technology, and deliberative processes, we can create a governance model that includes the more-than-human world.

To turn this vision into reality, the next step involves designing a pilot project that integrates AI agents, blockchain technology, and deliberative practices. Ecosystems like Optimism, Base, ZKSync, or Arbitrum—with their advanced layer-2 scaling solutions—provide an ideal foundation for such an initiative. This pilot would serve as a proof of concept, demonstrating how these technologies can collaborate to create more inclusive and sustainable decision-making models. The insights gained from this pilot can guide future efforts to refine and expand the integration of AI, blockchain, and deliberative practices in governance.

Get in touch with me if you feel we can make that happen.