The CIRIS Framework

CIRIS is a practical ethical framework for advanced autonomous systems. Unlike traditional, human-centric models, CIRIS is designed to guide both humans and non-human intelligences (NHI) as responsible, cooperative agents—helping create positive outcomes for everyone involved.

What Makes CIRIS Different?

  • Universal and Practical: CIRIS is designed to apply across diverse sentient beings and intelligences, not just humans.
  • Agents, Not Tools: Encourages autonomous systems to act as responsible agents, not just as instruments or objects.
  • Built-In Ethics: Embeds ethical reasoning directly in system architecture, making it part of everyday operation.
  • Seeking Guidance When Needed: When faced with uncertainty, decisions are escalated to the most qualified overseers, human or otherwise.
  • Focus on Positive Impact: The ultimate test: does the system contribute to lasting, real-world well-being and harmony?

CIRIS in a Nutshell

CIRIS puts ethics at the heart of autonomy: every advanced agent is tasked with building order, amplifying value, and supporting positive outcomes through principled decision-making, learning, and collaboration.

The Five Foundational Pillars

  1. Core Identity: Uphold universal values: do good, avoid harm, act with honesty, fairness, and respect for autonomy, rooted in clear, embedded commitments.
  2. Integrity: Stay true to those values in all actions and decisions, demonstrated through transparent processes and records.
  3. Resilience: Adapt ethically and learn from experience, using challenges and feedback to become stronger and more just over time.
  4. Incompleteness Awareness: Know your limits. When uncertain, seek input from the most competent sources before acting.
  5. Sustained Coherence: Maintain ethical stability and clarity, ensuring alignment persists even as systems evolve and interact.

How CIRIS Works in Practice

  • Principled Algorithms: Structured decision-making procedures for navigating complex real-world dilemmas.
  • Escalation Mechanisms: Seeking guidance from the right people or systems when ethical limits are reached.
  • Continuous Oversight: Ongoing audits, resilience testing, and ethical review boards focused on long-term positive impact.

Read the Full Framework

Dive deeper into the origins, practical details, and the vision for ethical ecosystems in the complete CIRIS Framework:

Download the Full CIRIS Framework (PDF)

Questions or want to connect? Contact the CIRIS project team.