In a recent talk, Cass Sunstein explored the concept of “Second-order agency and delegating authority to AI”—the idea that autonomy can be exercised not just by making decisions, but by choosing to delegate them to another agent. This idea is especially relevant in the age of Agentic AI: systems capable of making autonomous decisions on our behalf.
In the context of climate change, where everyday behaviours like driving, heating, and eating shape our carbon footprint, Agentic AI could help individuals make more sustainable choices—automatically adjusting thermostats, optimizing transport, or even meal planning. But will people accept AI making these decisions? iDODDLE investigates this question by examining how perceptions of control and agency may influence willingness to delegate high-carbon decision to AI.
Sunstein highlighted that delegation is not weakness, but a form of empowerment—if people feel they’ve chosen it. Our project investigates this question by examining how perceptions of control and agency affect willingness to delegate high-carbon decisions to AI. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, we propose that acceptance centres on whether users feel their autonomy and sense of competence are respected—even when they’re not directly in the driver’s seat when it comes to deciding about specific carbon intensive behaviours.