The Artificial Intelligence Influence on Structure of Power: Long-Term Transformation

Abstract

Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into public administration marks a pivotal shift in the structure of political power, transcending mere automation to catalyze a long-term transformation of governance itself. The author argues AI’s deployment disrupts the classical foundations of liberal democratic constitutionalism — particularly the separation of powers, parliamentary sovereignty, and representative democracy — by enabling the emergence of algorithmic authority (algocracy), where decision-making is centralized in opaque, technocratic systems. Drawing on political theory, comparative case studies, and interdisciplinary analysis, the researcher traces how AI reconfigures power dynamics through three interconnected processes: the erosion of transparency and accountability due to algorithmic opacity; the marginalization of legislative bodies as expertise and data-driven rationality dominate policymaking; and the ideological divergence in AI governance, reflecting competing visions of legitimacy and social order. The article highlights AI’s influence extends beyond technical efficiency, fundamentally altering the balance of interests among social groups and institutions. While algorithmic governance promises procedural fairness and optimized resource allocation, it risks entrenching epistocratic rule — where authority is concentrated in knowledge elites or autonomous systems — thereby undermining democratic participation. Empirical examples like AI-driven predictive policing and legislative drafting tools, illustrate how power consolidates in executive agencies and technocratic networks, bypassing traditional checks and balances. The study examines paradox of trust in AI systems: while citizens in authoritarian regimes exhibit high acceptance of algorithmic governance, democracies grapple with legitimacy crises as public oversight diminishes. The author contends “new structure of power” will hinge on reconciling AI’s transformative potential with safeguards for human dignity, pluralism, and constitutionalism. It proposes a reimagined framework for governance — one that decentralizes authority along thematic expertise rather than institutional branches, while embedding ethical accountability into algorithmic design. The long-term implications demand interdisciplinary collaboration, adaptive legal frameworks, and a redefinition of democratic legitimacy in an era where power is increasingly exercised by code rather than by humans.