AI and Socio-Techniques: Modeling Social Control in Complex Social Systems

Abstract
This article examines the role of advanced artificial intelligence technologies (AAIT) in governance and societal control within complex social systems through a sociocybernetic lens, focusing on Western democracies. Governance is framed as guided self-organization, where AAIT operate as socio-techniques (which are defined as deeply embedded social techniques designed to control and influence human behavior), such as predictive policing and hypernudging, to regulate societal complexity through adaptive, real-time feedback mechanisms. These technologies mediate between centralized and decentralized governance, leveraging data flows and predictive modeling to enable socio-technical engineering that aligns individual behaviors with systemic objectives. Sociocybernetics reveals how AAIT embed control within socio-technical infrastructures, blending regulation and behavioral influence into everyday processes. While they enhance governance efficiency by addressing complex challenges dynamically, they also centralize power and shape individual behavior in subtle, opaque ways. This raises ethical concerns regarding autonomy, transparency, and the commodification of decision-making. The article explores the dual role of AAIT: as instruments for managing complexity and as potential disruptors of democratic values and social equity. By examining the interdependence of cybernetic feedback systems, technological infrastructures, and governance practices, this analysis provides a framework for understanding how AAIT reshape power, agency, and control in increasingly data-driven and interconnected societies.