Is artificial intelligence a new stakeholding agent?

Corporate governance, traditionally centered on resolving agency conflicts among human stakeholders, is being transformed by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). No longer a passive tool, AI now acts as a proactive governance entity—a copula node within multilayer networks—linking shareholders, executives, regulators, and financial institutions. This structural shift enhances real-time decision-making, fraud detection, risk management, and compliance through algorithmic surveillance, reducing governance latency by 55.3% compared to conventional frameworks. This study employs a with-or-without counterfactual approach to evaluate the efficiency gains of AI-enhanced governance. The model, grounded in multilayer network theory, illustrates how AI reconfigures stakeholder dynamics and augments interconnectivity, thereby mitigating information asymmetries. However, AI’s rapid adoption raises urgent questions around liability, transparency, and ethical accountability. I propose that AI be treated not merely as a decision-support system but as a stakeholder requiring bespoke regulatory mechanisms. Ethical oversight, algorithmic audits, and hybrid governance structures are essential to ensure that AI’s growing influence aligns with corporate responsibility and public trust. As governance enters this new era, the challenge is not to replace human judgment but to embed AI within adaptive, ethically resilient frameworks. Future research must explore industry-specific models to optimize this integration.