Symbiotic Public Systems: When neither humans nor AI can govern alone…

This presentation introduces Symbiotic Public Systems (SPS), a novel framework for co-governance integrating human agents, institutions, and AI systems. As AI capabilities rapidly advance—exemplified by ChatGPT's billion weekly users making consequential decisions—traditional governance approaches face unprecedented challenges. The presentation argues that neither purely human nor purely AI governance is sufficient for addressing 21st-century complexity.

The framework combines two key components: Human-AI Governance (HAIG) infrastructure for managing evolving human-AI relationships through trust thresholds and accountability mechanisms, and the Algorithmic State Architecture (ASA) providing technical infrastructure spanning digital public infrastructure, data-for-policy systems, algorithmic governance processes, and GovTech service delivery.

Using ChatGPT as a case study, the presentation demonstrates how current AI systems operate outside existing governance structures, creating democratic deficits and accountability gaps. SPS offers a path toward governance that works at AI speed while preserving democratic legitimacy through symbiotic relationships that enhance both human and artificial capabilities.

Presented at UIK 2025 Summer School, Donostia/San Sebastián, July 16, 2025.