Governments worldwide have incorporated algorithmic decision-making into functions ranging from policing to welfare distribution, border control, and resource allocation. These political machines—AI systems used to support or automate government decision-making—are becoming central to contemporary governance while operating largely outside public scrutiny.

This transformation represents more than a technological upgrade to government operations; it marks a fundamental shift in the relationship between citizens and the state. As political machines increasingly make or inform decisions affecting people’s lives, questions of citizen participation will become an urgent concern for multilateral organizations, civil society, and institutional stakeholders.