Intelligent “digital twins” can revolutionize productivity – but also blur the boundaries of decision-making power

The "digital surrogates" built for artificial intelligence could in the future act as an extension of human thought, reaching into the network, according to a study published in the AI & SOCIETY journal. The idea is that an AI-based twin learns the user's information, personality, and goals and operates independently according to these. The article outlines a theoretical framework for this phenomenon, referred to as digital surrogacy. It is based on so-called cognitive externalism, the idea that notebooks, smartphones, and soon AI applications can genuinely be part of the human thinking process, not just external aids. The research highlights three interwoven consequences if such surrogates become widespread. Firstly, "extended individuality": the same identity and style of operation can be replicated simultaneously in various situations, such as at the workplace, on social media, and in customer service. Secondly, "black box productivity": AI can produce an unprecedented amount of content and decisions, but it remains unclear to the user how the outcome was reached. Thirdly, "reversal of autonomy": the user transfers decision-making to their surrogate, reducing their cognitive load but simultaneously relinquishing some of their agency. Additionally, the research incorporates self-determination theory, a psychological motivation theory, and considers under what conditions digital surrogates could truly support human well-being and success rather than undermine them. The article does not offer ready-made solutions but provides a tool to assess what happens when one's mind no longer ends where the skin does – but continues in AI-driven digital copies. Source: The future of productivity: digital surrogacy, AI & SOCIETY.