Ensuring user autonomy in AI systems

AI systems are becoming deeply embedded in decision-making processes that affect individuals' rights and opportunities. Ensuring user autonomy and informed consent in this context has become a pressing challenge. Existing regulatory frameworks struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI, leaving gaps in transparency, fairness, and accountability. Users often lack meaningful autonomy when interacting with AI systems, as they cannot easily initiate, modify, or fully understand these interactions through accessible, human-centered interfaces. This article examines the regulatory landscape surrounding AI systems in contexts where concerns about user autonomy, accountability, and legal responsibility are particularly pressing, as well as technical options for regulatory implementation. We examine how current and emerging AI policies address these challenges, analyzing their effectiveness in protecting user agency and decision-making power. We also explore global, national, and institutional regulatory approaches, highlighting differences in structure and enforcement. Finally, we investigate emerging adaptive policy solutions and enhanced consent mechanisms that may promote ethical AI governance and user empowerment in an era of increasing automation.