Preprint: 'Build Agent Advocates, Not Platform Agents' by Sayash Kapoor, Noam Kolt and Seth Lazar

In a new position paper accepted to ICML 2025, Sayash Kapoor, Noam Kolt, and Seth Lazar argue that language‑model agents controlled by platform companies risk reinforcing surveillance, user lock‑in, and incumbency in digital ecosystems. Instead, they advocate building agent advocates: user‑controlled AI agents designed to uphold user choice and autonomy. The authors propose three key interventions to support this shift: broad public access to compute and capable AI models not owned by platforms; open standards for interoperability and safety; and policy reforms to reshape the competitive landscape.

Read the full paper here