BusinessAugust 17, 2026

automatocracy

uh-TOM-uh-TOCK-ruh-see

Definition

A form of government or a societal state characterized by the widespread rule or dominance of automation, algorithmic decision-making, and machine-driven systems.

Etymology

The word is a modern portmanteau derived from 'automatic' (from Greek 'automatos', meaning 'self-acting') and '-cracy' (from Greek 'kratos', meaning 'power' or 'rule'). It is a neologism constructed to label the contemporary rise of algorithmic governance.

In the news

The author uses this term to describe a dystopian outcome where societal control is ceded to automated systems, warning that it poses a significant threat to democracy and human rights.

FT and Standard Chartered Business Book of the Year Award 2026 — the longlist

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Financial Times

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