Big Tech and AI startups are starting to choose leaders by lottery — why that’s a good thing

The resurgence of sortition in modern governance: Sortition, an ancient practice of selecting decision-makers through random lottery, is experiencing a revival in various sectors, including tech companies and AI startups, as a method to address issues of trust and representation in decision-making processes.

• Sortition, also known as “government by lottery,” was originally used in ancient Athenian democracy to elect public officials.
• Modern applications of sortition can be seen in tech giants like Meta and AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which are using this method to shape their policies.
• The renewed interest in sortition comes at a time when trust in expert authority is waning, prompting a search for alternative decision-making mechanisms.

Key figures in sortition research: Two prominent researchers are at the forefront of studying and implementing sortition in contemporary contexts.

• Bailey Flanigan, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard and incoming assistant professor at MIT, has developed selection algorithms for sortition that are currently in use.
• Andrew Hall, a political science professor at Stanford University, serves as an advisor to Meta and consultant to a16z crypto research, bringing sortition principles to tech and crypto governance.

Benefits of sortition: The random selection process inherent in sortition offers several advantages over traditional decision-making methods.

• Sortition can help mitigate the reliance on expert authority, which may be subject to biases or conflicts of interest.
• The process of deliberation among randomly selected individuals can lead to changes in perspectives and more diverse decision-making.
• Sortition has the potential to increase representation and fairness in governance structures, from national politics to crypto project management.

Applications across various domains: The principles of sortition are being adapted and applied in diverse fields, showcasing its versatility as a governance tool.

• In the tech industry, companies like Meta are exploring sortition to address content moderation and policy-making challenges.
• AI startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic are incorporating sortition-based methods to ensure diverse perspectives in shaping AI ethics and governance.
• Crypto projects are considering sortition as a means to enhance decentralization and community involvement in decision-making processes.

Challenges and considerations: While sortition offers promising solutions, its implementation comes with certain challenges that need to be addressed.

• Developing fair and manipulation-resistant algorithms for the selection process is crucial, as highlighted by Flanigan’s research.
• Balancing the random selection with the need for specific expertise in certain decision-making contexts remains a challenge.
• Ensuring that the deliberation process among selected individuals is effective and well-structured is essential for the success of sortition-based approaches.

Broader implications for democracy and governance: The renewed interest in sortition raises important questions about the future of democratic processes and decision-making in various institutions.

• Sortition could potentially complement or partially replace traditional representative democracy in some contexts, offering a more direct form of citizen participation.
• The use of sortition in corporate and technological governance might lead to new models of stakeholder engagement and accountability.
• As trust in traditional institutions wanes, sortition-based approaches could provide a path to rebuilding public confidence in decision-making processes.

Looking ahead: The future of sortition: As research and practical applications of sortition continue to evolve, its potential impact on governance structures and decision-making processes is likely to grow.

• Further studies on the effectiveness of sortition in various contexts will be crucial in determining its broader applicability.
• The development of more sophisticated algorithms and selection methods may enhance the fairness and representativeness of sortition-based approaches.
• The integration of sortition with other democratic innovations and technologies could lead to hybrid models of governance that address current shortcomings in decision-making processes.