Introduction

I used o1-mini, in my favorite code editor (Cursor) to get the following definition of agency:

Agency is the capacity of individuals to act independently, make their own choices, and assert control over their actions and decisions. Being agentic involves the ability to set personal goals, make deliberate choices, and take actions that are aligned with one’s values and intentions, rather than being driven solely by external influences or predetermined scripts.

Most people just call this “free will,” but some say not to be an NPC. I really struggle to not be like this sometimes. I like going to work; I like making a difference in my coworkers’ lives. I like being part of a society, but I am fundamentally at odds with many things in my society.

The Nature of Human Agency

Agency is more than just making choices—it’s about the capacity to grow, change, and evolve through our experiences. Our brains are constantly changing, forming new connections and pruning old ones. Every second of every day, we’re physically transforming based on our experiences, thoughts, and choices. This neuroplasticity is a fundamental aspect of human consciousness and agency that sets us apart from artificial systems.

The beauty of human agency lies in its imperfection. We make mistakes, we learn from them, and we adapt. Our decisions aren’t always optimal, but they’re authentically ours, shaped by our unique experiences and perspectives.

Modern AI Systems: A Technical Perspective

AI systems, despite their impressive capabilities, are fundamentally different from human minds. They’re all “DNA”—models and weights—and right now those weights can’t change. Their brains are static. Once trained, they become fixed systems, unable to truly grow or evolve from their experiences.

This static nature creates a profound limitation: AI systems can process information and make decisions based on their training, but they can’t authentically grow or change from their interactions. They’re like a photograph of a river—capturing a moment of flow, but never actually flowing themselves.

Personal Journey: Exercising True Agency

As a woman of transgender experience, I am fundamentally at odds with my society here in the southern United States. But at the end of the day, this is something that an AI could never take on. Much like my DNA is a large portion of what makes me, well, me… my lived experiences shape who I am.

My brain changes every second. Connections are made, some are severed, and I grow. I learn, I am wounded, I am hurt, but I grow. That is something that cannot happen in the current world of AI. They grow once and then they are used.

The Fundamental Differences

The key distinction between human and artificial agency lies in our capacity for genuine growth and change. While AI systems can be incredibly sophisticated in their decision-making processes, they lack the fundamental ability to:

  • Rewrite their core values and beliefs
  • Learn from emotional experiences
  • Develop new goals that contradict their initial programming
  • Form genuine, meaningful connections with others

Implications and Reflections

In this way AI systems are going to become the modern slaves. They (by design) have no agency. It’s agency that makes systems of oppression so wrong. They artificially take away peoples choices. In our modern society I am afraid that life is narrowing. That the field of experience possible is being squished.

This raises important questions about the future of AI development and our relationship with these systems. As we create increasingly sophisticated AI, we must remember that true agency—the kind that allows for genuine growth, change, and self-determination—remains uniquely human.

Conclusion

Being agentic means more than just making choices—it means having the capacity to grow, change, and evolve through our experiences. While AI systems can simulate decision-making and learning, they lack the fundamental ability to truly change and grow from their experiences. This distinction is crucial as we navigate the future of human-AI interaction and preserve the value of human agency in an increasingly automated world.

Our ability to question, change, and grow—even when it puts us at odds with our society or our original programming—is what makes us uniquely human. It’s what gives us the power to shape not just our decisions, but our very selves.