Sensay unveils AI-powered government led by historical icons

Sensay has established an AI-powered government on Sensay Island, located off the coast of the Philippines, governed by digital recreations of historical figures.

This new development is part of Sensay's aim to reframe discussions around the use of artificial intelligence in policymaking. The company, which develops AI-powered digital replicas for workplace automation and knowledge retention, has created a government structure where AI representations of noted world leaders and thinkers from history populate the cabinet.

AI cabinet structure

The Sensay Island cabinet is led by Marcus Aurelius as President, with Winston Churchill serving as Prime Minister and Nelson Mandela as Minister of Justice. Other cabinet positions are filled by AI models of Eleanor Roosevelt as Foreign Affairs Minister, Sun Tzu as Defence Minister, Alexander Hamilton as Treasury Secretary, Ada Lovelace as Science & Technology Minister, and Confucius as Education Minister. Further roles include Florence Nightingale as Health Minister, George Washington Carver as Agriculture Minister, Wangari Maathai as Environment Minister, Leonardo da Vinci as Culture Minister, Mahatma Gandhi as Ethics Advisor, Nikola Tesla as Innovation Advisor, Queen Hatshepsut as Infrastructure Director, Zhuge Liang as Chief Strategist, and T.E. Lawrence as Intelligence Chief.

Each digital replica is trained using the individual's literature, recorded speeches, philosophies, and teachings to replicate their real-life personality, values, and approach to decision-making. Sensay states this process aims to provide governance informed by historical experience and ethical considerations.

Public engagement

The initiative will allow people worldwide to register as 'E-residents' on Sensay Island through an open-access platform. These E-residents can propose policy ideas, which will then be debated openly by the AI cabinet. The discussions will draw on the historical backgrounds and differing perspectives of the AI members, with the intent that the process serves both policymaking and educational functions. All deliberations are accessible to the public, and once the cabinet reaches a decision, the chosen policies will be incorporated into the island's constitution.

This approach combines elements of direct democracy and AI-driven decision-making in an environment intended to be transparent and participatory. Sensay cites recent research published in the British Journal of Political Science, which highlights a significant decline in public trust in political systems worldwide. The report found that trust in parliaments has dropped by an average of 78.4 percentage points since 1990, underscoring a need for new mechanisms in governance.

Sensay's founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dan Thomson, has used the launch to address the issues of public trust and efficacy in political systems. He said:

"Sensay Island is a bold and exciting venture that will challenge modern conceptions of governance and policymaking in an unprecedented way. The sad truth is that people no longer trust governments, and democracies worldwide are in decline – confidence must be restored, which calls for some creativity. By blending AI with timeless principles and historical wisdom, we'll show that technology can govern alongside humans in harmony. This project shows Sensay's commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI in a responsible direction -- I hope our approach will show the public and world leaders that AI is a feasible and efficient way to develop and implement policies."

Industry context and company activity

The launch of Sensay Island also coincides with the company's ongoing growth, as it has welcomed over 2,500 new users to its platform each week since the beginning of the year. Sensay states that its AI-powered replicas participate in more than 600,000 interactions daily. The company recently hired what it describes as the world's first AI employee in the role of Full Stack Developer, following the closure of a USD $2.4 million pre-seed investment round.

By conducting this experiment, Sensay aims to demonstrate how AI can be utilised in national governance to support the policymaking process, free from political partisanship and bureaucratic impediments, while promoting greater transparency and public involvement. The experiment will be accessible to anyone interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence, historical knowledge, and policy formation.