One year ago, tech founder Dan Thomson announced the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI)-managed nation on a tropical island in Asia. In 2025, Thomson acquired rights to an island in Palawan province, a popular Philippines tourist destination. He named the island Sensay, after his AI company, and declared it a "micronation"—a term for self-proclaimed independent states unrecognized by governments or international organizations.

Thomson established a governing council of AI-powered bots, modeled after historical figures such as: Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marcus Aurelius, Nelson Mandela, Sun Tzu, Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander Hamilton, and Mahatma Gandhi. He also opened registration for global citizens to reside virtually.

Seascape in Palawan, Philippines. *Image Professionals GmbH*.

Thomson envisions transforming the island into a unique destination for divers and island-hopping tourists, popular in Palawan, while also welcoming long-term residents. He stated he has the right to lease and develop the island, with plans for approximately 30 resort villas for visitors and those seeking a new lifestyle. "I think this place will mainly host tourists from islands neighboring Coron," he said, noting the Palawan provincial government has not yet responded to the legality of this governance model.

Beyond visiting the physical island, individuals can register as "e-residents" through an online program set to launch in 2027. While the full residency program is expected in 2027, interactive trials will begin this summer. Over 12,000 people have already registered to experience the model. Virtual residents can submit development proposals for the island, which the AI robot council will discuss, debate, and vote on. According to Sensay's constitution, AI entities will present views, challenge each other, and then vote. Human personnel on the island will then implement the AI's decisions.

The Principality of Sealand declared itself a micronation in 1967 and has its own royal family. *Ben Stansall/AFP*.

According to Emily Keogh, a communications advisor for the project, Sensay island has not encountered conflicts with local populations. The only actual resident on the island is a landscape employee named Mike. Piotr Pietruszewski-Gil, who built his own micronation, joined the project as a manager. He noted diverse applicants, from curious tourists and technology enthusiasts to citizens disillusioned with real-world politicians.

Thomson acknowledged the challenge of finding objective personnel to execute AI commands precisely. He believes that as technology advances, the human element will diminish. AI could manage its own cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts to hire contractors and laborers for manual tasks on the island. Asserting that the project is not a joke, Thomson expects this model to be adopted by future governments, ensuring objectivity and avoiding influence from interest groups. The system uses a vast repository of historical documents to train "AI leaders" to make decisions based on a macro vision, not imitating prototype biases.

Despite the founders' belief in a borderless, conflict-free AI government, scholars have issued warnings. Alondra Nelson, a research expert at the Oxford University Institute for Ethics in AI, stated: "That's a ridiculous claim; we see AI make errors and go astray every day." Nelson also questioned the project's democracy, noting that all real power rests with a single tech company or founder, calling the mechanism "performative."

In response, Thomson explained the island's constitution allows residents to vote to replace any council member with another historical figure. He described it as a social experiment. If residents propose dictators like Stalin or Hitler for the cabinet, that is their choice. The greatest risk, he argues, comes not from AI, but from humans who could incite the system to create a robot with a tyrannical personality to invade other lands. "If this AI system starts seeking to acquire weapons and attack neighboring islands, that would be a terrible scenario, but I think the probability is extremely low," Thomson said, admitting he is not entirely certain about a positive outcome for the AI nation.

The concept of micronations for tourism and idea testing is not new. Previously, the Principality of Sealand, UK, and the Kingdom of Slowjamastan in the California desert, US, became popular destinations due to their uniqueness, complete with their own passports and laws. However, Sensay island represents a new trend for tech millionaires: acquiring deserted islands to serve as technology and lifestyle "laboratories." By installing AI bots as managers, the founder hopes the island will operate objectively, free from human biases.

While this robot-managed model faces skepticism from technology experts regarding its practicality and safety, Sensay island remains a highly intriguing prospect in the travel community, promising a fresh approach to Philippines island tourism in the future.

Mai Phuong (According to CNN)