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Source reconstruction · Proposed

Evolving Prosocial AI

From Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson’s Evolving Prosocial AI · reconstructed by AI

Published 26 October 2026
Release 2026-10-26.1

Question 1 of 6 · The goal

What are we trying to achieve?

The goal, and what has to be true for it.

Statements
24
Connections
23
Open questions
1

How to read it. Read from the top down: the goal needs each condition beneath it.

GoalSuccess factorConditionFrom another part

Part 1 of 2

Flourishing at every scale

The authors judge AI by its effects on people, organisations, societies and the planet. Each scale has its own conditions, drawn from Section 4.

Draws on Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson (document).

GOALAI strengthens cooperation and flourishing at every scale.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson6 success factorsSUCCESS FACTORPeople's competence, autonomy and relatedness grow.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson4 conditionsCONDITIONAI scaffolds thinking rather than doing the work.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonCONDITIONUsers' stated preferences are respected and can override.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonCONDITIONAI supports human connection rather than replacing it.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonCONDITIONPeople have the conditions to turn access into capability.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonSUCCESS FACTORThose who build AI share its benefits and a say.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonSUCCESS FACTORDemocracy, shared facts and institutions get stronger.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson3 conditionsCONDITIONInformation systems favour agreement over engagement.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonCONDITIONAI helps citizens deliberate rather than deciding for them.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonCONDITIONAI is designed to widen opportunity for the marginalised.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonSUCCESS FACTORAI works within planetary limits.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson2 conditionsCONDITIONAI's energy and material costs are visible and weighed.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonCONDITIONCommunities with ecological knowledge keep authority.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonSUCCESS FACTORCooperation pays better than extraction.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan WilsonSUCCESS FACTORThose shaping AI hold prosocial worldviews.From Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson
Muted boxes belong to other parts and are drawn so that statements acting together stay together; select one to go to its part.

Outline

Part 2 of 2

Make cooperation pay

The authors' central claim: prosocial AI needs institutions that reward cooperation, not heroic sacrifice. Ostrom's core design principles, applied to AI, are the proposed conditions; worldviews come with them.

Draws on Paul Atkins and David Sloan Wilson (document).

SUCCESS FACTORCooperation pays better thanextraction.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonSUCCESS FACTORThose shaping AI hold prosocialworldviews.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONAffected communities agreewhat AI is for.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONContributors share benefits;costs aren't pushed onto others.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONThose affected help make therules, including not to build.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONAI is audited, and violationsmeet escalating consequences.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONPeople can challenge harmfuldeployments and get remedies.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONStakeholder bodies have realpower, not just a say.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONNested governance coordinatesacross scales.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilsonCONDITIONCapability impacts can bemeasured.From Paul Atkins and David SloanWilson

Outline

Beyond this part · 2 links
Where this comes from

In the Logical Thinking Process this view is a goal tree. How a commons works →