Blog Archives

Next-Gen Pharma: Blockchain-Driven Autonomous Transactions in Life Sciences

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Veritas Automata Akshay Sood

Akshay Sood

Sr. Blockchain Consultant

Veritas Automata Rodolfo

Rodolfo Leal

Director, Software Engineering

Veritas Automata Fabrizio Sgura

Fabrizio Sgura

Chief Engineer

In the competitive arena of life sciences, where progress is both a currency and a necessity, a disruptor has emerged, armed with digital muscle: blockchain technology.

But let’s cut to the chase. Why, in an age of rapid advancement, does an industry as vital as life sciences still grapple with outdated processes, drowning in paperwork and inefficiencies while the world marches forward?
Despite the brilliant minds and groundbreaking research, a whopping 80% [1] of clinical trials struggle to meet their enrollment deadlines. Moreover, navigating the labyrinth of regulatory compliance often feels akin to tiptoeing through a minefield, with missteps resulting in financial fiascos and patient peril.

No Frills, Just Facts

Enter blockchain, a bold solution and the disruptor-in-chief of legacy systems. Picture a decentralized ledger where every transaction, every data point, is recorded securely and immutably, accessible only to authorized parties, orchestrated by Smart Contracts. They execute flawlessly, no hand-holding required. And supply chains? They’re transparent and bulletproof; traceability is the nature of the technology. Bolstered by transparency, no repudiation of transactions agreed between parts will grant the same trust as signed deals.

Skeptics Will Scoff

But hey, we’re not naive. Scalability? We’ve got it covered. Interoperability? Consider it done. Regulatory concerns? We’re at the table, shaping the rules.
Harnessing the power of technologies like Rancher K3s Kubernetes, we’re paving the way for scalable, easy to integrate blockchain solutions tailored to the unique needs of the life sciences industry. We’re collaborating with regulatory bodies to establish frameworks that strike the delicate balance between innovation and compliance, ensuring that patient safety remains paramount.
The era of blockchain-driven autonomy in life sciences isn’t a pipe dream, it’s our reality. As we navigate the uncharted waters of technological innovation, let’s embrace the transformative potential of blockchain and smart contracts to usher in a new era of efficiency, transparency, and integrity.
So buckle up, because we’re not just talking change, we’re making it happen. The time for Next-Gen Pharma is now. Join us in revolutionizing the future of life sciences.
[1] Array, “Mitigating Clinical Trial Enrollment Challenges”

Update Without Upheaval: Tackling Over-the-Air (OTA) Challenges

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Veritas Automata Fabrizio Sgura

Fabrizio Sgura

Chief Engineer

Veritas Automata Anusha Kotla

Anusha Kotla

Staff Engineer

When it comes to IoT, the ability to update devices over-the-air (OTA) is hailed as both a blessing and a curse. It promises convenience and efficiency, yet the reality often paints a different picture—a landscape riddled with challenges and pitfalls that threaten to disrupt operations and compromise security.

Consider this: as our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the number of IoT devices continues to skyrocket. With such exponential growth comes the daunting task of managing and updating these devices seamlessly, without causing upheaval or risking critical failures.
Here’s the question that demands our attention: How do we navigate the treacherous waters of OTA updates to ensure smooth sailing, rather than capsizing our digital fleets?
Let’s explore a compelling fact: Despite the undeniable benefits of OTA updates, studies show that a significant portion of IoT devices remain vulnerable to security breaches due to outdated firmware—a glaring reminder of the urgent need for effective update mechanisms.
Picture this scenario: A smart city relies on a network of IoT sensors to monitor traffic flow and optimize transportation systems. A sudden software glitch triggers chaos on the streets, leading to gridlock and frustration among citizens. The culprit? A failed OTA update that slipped through the cracks, wreaking havoc on the city’s infrastructure.
Now, imagine a different narrative—one where Digital Twins emerge as the unsung heroes in the battle against OTA challenges. These virtual replicas of physical devices offer a sandbox for testing updates in a controlled environment, allowing for thorough validation before deployment. With Digital Twins at the helm, organizations can preemptively identify and address potential issues, mitigating the risks of botched updates and safeguarding against costly downtime.
But the journey doesn’t end there. Enter blockchain—a formidable ally in the quest for security and integrity. By leveraging blockchain technology, IoT ecosystems can fortify their defenses against malicious attacks, ensuring that OTA updates are tamper-proof and verifiable from end to end. With every transaction securely recorded on the blockchain, trust is no longer a luxury—it’s a fundamental building block.
In a world where every update carries the weight of progress or peril, the importance of seamless updates is paramount. From safeguarding against cyber threats to enhancing device functionality, the stakes are higher than ever before. By embracing Digital Twins and harnessing the power of blockchain, we pave the way for a future where OTA updates are no longer a source of anxiety, but a catalyst for innovation and resilience.
We challenge you to join the ranks of forward-thinking pioneers who refuse to settle for mediocrity in the face of adversity. Let’s rewrite the narrative of OTA updates—one digital twin at a time, one block at a time. Are you ready to update without upheaval?

Seamless Integration: Activation and Certification in the IoT Landscape

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Veritas Automata Daniel Prado

Daniel Prado

Director Software Engineering Manager

The efficient procedures governing the activation and certification of IoT devices emphasizes the pivotal role of Digital Twins in an ecosystem.

Below we’ll review the utilization of Digital Twins, IoT platforms, and blockchain for certification, shedding light on their collective contribution to enhancing the deployment, compliance, and security aspects of the IoT landscape.

Digital Twins:

Central to this discussion is the concept of Digital Twins — a technology that replicates physical objects in a digital space. Examining how Digital Twins operate in tandem with IoT platforms illustrates the efficiency gains achieved through this integrated approach.

IoT Platforms:

An integral component of the IoT landscape, platforms play a crucial role in facilitating communication, data management, and device orchestration. We’ll explore how IoT platforms contribute to the ease and reliability of deploying new devices.

Blockchain for Certification:

To fortify the certification process, blockchain technology is harnessed for its immutable and transparent ledger capabilities. Below we’ll analyze how blockchain ensures the integrity of certification data, contributing to a robust and trustworthy IoT ecosystem.

Why It Matters: The Cliff Notes Version

Deployment Efficiency: The integration of Digital Twins and IoT platforms streamlines the activation process, enabling the swift and reliable deployment of new devices.
Compliance and Standards: Digital Twins play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with industry standards, emphasizing the significance of adhering to established norms for a cohesive and interoperable IoT landscape.
Security in Certification: Addressing the crucial aspect of security underscores the importance of robust certification processes facilitated by blockchain technology. This ensures that IoT devices adhere to stringent security measures, mitigating potential vulnerabilities.

Enter Veritas Automata’s Hivenet…

At Veritas Automata, we recognize that in the fluid backdrop of IoT activation and certification, businesses require more than conventional solutions. Enter Hivenet, our cutting-edge platform designed to revolutionize how organizations store and manage data securely and efficiently, particularly through the establishment of digital chains of custody. This innovative approach is a game-changer for decision-makers seeking not just compliance but a strategic edge in the fast-paced digital era.
Hivenet forms the foundation for creating digital chains of custody, ensuring the integrity and security of data throughout its lifecycle. Decision-makers understand that in today’s world, where data is a valuable asset, maintaining a robust chain of custody is non-negotiable. Hivenet not only meets this imperative but elevates it, providing a powerful platform that blends Kubernetes-based infrastructure, blockchain technology via Hyperledger Fabric, and advanced application architecture support.
For decision-makers seeking to harness the latest advancements in cloud-native, blockchain, and edge technologies, Hivenet offers a comprehensive toolkit. Our platform is engineered to transcend the limitations of traditional cloud services, providing unparalleled capabilities for creating secure transactions in the IoT ecosystem. Hivenet’s scalability and flexibility, coupled with our unwavering commitment to security and efficiency, make it the go-to choice for organizations aiming to operate dynamically in the digital age.
Choosing Hivenet isn’t merely an adoption of new technology, it’s a strategic investment in the future of your business. Our platform empowers your organization to operate with unparalleled agility, ensuring that you meet regulatory standards and stay ahead of the curve. Hivenet becomes a strategic asset, enhancing your operational efficiency, bolstering security measures, and providing a decisive competitive advantage.
The integration of activation and certification processes in the IoT landscape is imperative for realizing the full potential of connected devices. Leveraging technologies such as Digital Twins, IoT platforms, and blockchain not only enhances efficiency but also fortifies the reliability, compliance, and security of the entire ecosystem.

Autonomous Synergy: Pioneering Transactions in the Digital Twin Era

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Veritas Automata Fabrizio Sgura

Fabrizio Sgura

Chief Engineer

Veritas Automata Anders Cook

Anders Cook

Delivery Management Manager

Let’s discuss the transformative role of Digital Twins and their integration with innovative technologies to revolutionize transaction processes.

The focal point is the seamless combination of Digital Twins, blockchain, and IoT (Internet of Things), driving autonomous transactions for heightened efficiency and reliability. As decision-makers navigate the complexities of modern business, we’ll aim to underscore the significance of embracing autonomous synergy.
The three pivotal technologies: Digital Twins, blockchain, and IoT. These technologies form the basis of autonomous transactions, with Digital Twins providing virtual representations, blockchain ensuring secure transactions, and IoT contributing real-time data.
In this context, Veritas Automata’s Hivenet emerges as a powerful tool that enhances the digital chain of custody. Hivenet is a platform that amalgamates secure and efficient data management through the creation of digital chains of custody. Hivenet serves as a dynamic solution for businesses, enabling innovation and agility in today’s fast-paced digital environment.
Hivenet represents the digital chain of custody, integrating Kubernetes-based infrastructure, blockchain technology via Hyperledger Fabric, and advanced application architecture support. Tailored for organizations embracing cloud-native, blockchain, and edge technologies, Hivenet provides a comprehensive toolkit that transcends traditional cloud services when creating secure transactions.

Why it Matters: Because Life’s Too Short for Unanswered Questions!

Digital twins enable real-time, accurate representations of physical assets, processes, or systems through a combination of advanced technologies and methodologies. Here’s how they facilitate such precise monitoring, analysis, and optimization:
01. Data Integration and IoT: Digital Twins are built upon the integration of vast amounts of data from various sources, including IoT sensors, operational systems, and external environmental data. IoT sensors installed on physical assets collect real-time data on performance, environmental conditions, and operational parameters. This continuous flow of data into the Digital Twin ensures that the virtual model accurately reflects the current state of its physical counterpart.
02. Advanced Simulation and Modeling: At the core of a Digital Twin is a sophisticated simulation model that replicates the physical asset’s behavior under various conditions. This model can simulate physical phenomena, mechanical performance, and the impact of environmental factors using physics-based modeling, statistical methods, and machine learning algorithms. This allows for detailed analysis and scenario planning, helping decision-makers understand how assets will perform under different conditions.
03. Real-Time Analysis and Predictive Analytics: Digital Twins leverage real-time data analytics and predictive modeling to forecast future performance and identify potential issues before they occur. By analyzing trends and patterns in the data collected from the physical asset, the Digital Twin can predict wear and tear, maintenance needs, and potential system failures, enabling proactive measures to avoid downtime and extend the asset’s lifespan.
04. Visualization and Immersive Technologies: Digital Twins often incorporate advanced visualization tools, including 3D modeling and Augmented Reality (AR), to provide an intuitive and immersive view of the asset and its operations. This aids in better understanding complex systems, simplifying troubleshooting, and enhancing collaboration among teams by providing a common, detailed reference point.
05. Automated Control and Optimization: With the integration of AI and machine learning, Digital Twins can automate decision-making processes based on the real-time analysis of data. They can optimize operations by adjusting parameters in the physical world (through connected devices and control systems) to achieve desired outcomes, such as reducing energy consumption, maximizing throughput, or minimizing waste.
06. Integration with Business Systems: Digital Twins are not isolated systems; they are integrated with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), asset management, and Business Intelligence (BI) systems. This integration ensures that insights derived from the Digital Twin can directly inform business decisions, operational strategies, and financial planning, aligning technical capabilities with business objectives.
By choosing Hivenet, organizations invest in a strategic asset that significantly enhances operational agility. Hivenet’s commitment to security and efficiency empowers businesses to innovate and operate more dynamically, staying competitive and safe in the rapidly evolving digital world.

Extend Hivenet: When a Platform Can Run Embedded Platforms As Service

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Veritas Automata Ed Fullman

Ed Fullman

Chief Solutions Delivery Officer

Veritas Automata Fabrizio Sgura

Fabrizio Sgura

Chief Engineer

Mastering the complexity of global operations and securing transaction integrity across supply chains is non-negotiable. HiveNet stands at the forefront of this challenge, offering a robust, Kubernetes-based infrastructure integrated with blockchain technology via Hyperledger Fabric, alongside advanced application architecture support. HiveNet’s role is a critical asset for businesses seeking to leverage cloud-native, blockchain, and edge technologies to secure transactions and enhance operational agility.
HiveNet isn’t just a platform; it’s a strategic investment that propels businesses ahead in the digital race, ensuring scalability, security, and unparalleled efficiency.
Securing a transparent and reliable chain of custody in global operations is a paramount challenge that modern businesses face. HiveNet rises to this challenge, delivering a seamless solution that harnesses the power of the latest in cloud-native, blockchain, and edge technologies. HiveNet’s superior offering, particularly its innovative capability to run embedded platforms as services, solidifies its status as a strategic asset for enhancing competitive advantage and operational agility.

Why HiveNet is Unmatched

HiveNet sets itself apart with a blend of cutting-edge features and foundational strengths tailored for today’s dynamic business environment:
HiveNet ensures every transaction and operational process is securely logged and verifiable, establishing an unparalleled digital chain of custody vital for businesses with global reach.

Built on a scalable and flexible Kubernetes-based foundation, HiveNet supports a broad spectrum of applications and services, responding adeptly to the evolving demands of businesses, and ensuring seamless scaling and effortless resource management.

By embedding blockchain technology via Hyperledger Fabric, HiveNet fortifies its platform with an immutable ledger, enhancing the trustworthiness and accountability of all business operations.

HiveNet is designed to support the most advanced application architectures, enabling businesses to deploy pioneering solutions that fully exploit HiveNet’s robust infrastructure.

Mastering Embedded Platforms as Services

HiveNet’s ability to seamlessly run embedded platforms as services marks a significant leap forward in platform technology. This functionality grants businesses the power to embed and autonomously run their platforms within HiveNet, granting unparalleled levels of operational control and flexibility.
  • Scalability and Flexibility Without Limits - inherently scalable and flexible architecture ensures businesses can grow without the constraints of traditional infrastructures, embracing the future with confidence.
  • Uncompromised Security - a commitment to security, powered by blockchain technology, guarantees a secure, trust-based environment for all embedded platforms, safeguarding sensitive data and high-integrity transactions.
  • Efficiency and Innovation at Its Core - accelerate the pace of innovation, allowing businesses to rapidly deploy new services and applications. Its efficient infrastructure, combined with embedded platform support, drives the fast-track development and launch of groundbreaking solutions.
HiveNet is not just a technological solution but a strategic imperative for businesses aiming to dominate in the digital era. Its unique capability to host embedded platforms as services opens up limitless possibilities for innovation, scalability, and security. Investing in HiveNet means securing a place at the forefront of digital transformation, enhancing operational agility, and solidifying a competitive edge in an increasingly digital marketplace.
Step into the future of digital operations with HiveNet. Explore how our platform can elevate your business, offering a secure, scalable, and agile solution for managing global chain-of-custody and mastering embedded platforms as services. Don’t just compete in the digital era—dominate it with HiveNet. Reach out today to discover how HiveNet can become your most valuable strategic asset in navigating the digital landscape.

Discovering Hivenet: From a Distributed Cluster System to a Blockchain-Capable Platform

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Veritas Automata Rodolfo

Rodolfo Leal

Software Engineering Director

Veritas Automata Jonathan Dominguez

Jonathan Dominguez

Software Developer

The fusion of the digital and physical realms increasingly blurs the lines between the present and the future. Imagine a world where the computational power of cloud and edge computing seamlessly merges with the unassailable security and transparency of blockchain technology.

This is not the plot of a sci-fi novel but the reality offered by Hivenet. But here lies a provocative question: How does Hivenet transcend the boundaries of traditional cloud computing to become a blockchain-capable platform, setting a new benchmark for future technologies?
At its core, Hivenet represents an innovative amalgamation of open-source, Kubernetes-based infrastructure’s scalability and flexibility with the robust security and transparency features of blockchain technology, courtesy of Hyperledger Fabric. This blend not only addresses the growing demands for more secure and transparent computing platforms but also introduces a paradigm shift in how businesses deploy and manage distributed applications.
What sets Hivenet apart is its support for advanced architectures such as ROS for robotics, XState for managing finite state machines, and NATS for Raft-based distributed messaging. These features, combined with integrated GitOps and comprehensive Observability tools, create a rich ecosystem for developing cloud and edge-native applications. This ecosystem is crucial for businesses that require meticulous digital or physical chain of custody management for products and information, providing a seamless bridge between conventional cloud services and the dynamic requirements of modern, distributed applications.
Consider this intriguing fact: Hivenet’s architecture is designed not just for today’s needs but with an eye towards the future. It embraces the complexity of managing state-of-the-art applications while ensuring that security and transparency are not compromised. This is particularly vital in an era where the integrity of data and systems is paramount, and the ability to swiftly deploy and manage applications can significantly impact a business’s agility and competitive edge.
Hivenet’s proposition is bold and ambitious. It challenges the status quo by offering a platform that simplifies the deployment and management of cloud and edge-native applications. But beyond its technical capabilities, Hivenet represents a vision of a future where the boundaries between different computing paradigms blur, creating a seamless, secure, and efficient infrastructure for the next generation of digital applications.
As we delve deeper into the capabilities and potential of Hivenet, we must ask ourselves: Are we ready to embrace this new era of computing? And more importantly, how will Hivenet’s fusion of cloud, edge, and blockchain technologies redefine the way we think about and interact with the digital world?
This is not just a story about technological innovation; it’s a glimpse into the future of computing, where Hivenet is poised to play a pivotal role.

AI Rivals a strategy for safe and ethical Artificial Intelligence solutions.

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Veritas Automata Ed Fullman

Ed Fullman

Chief Solutions Delivery Officer

In our last AI thought leadership article, “Unveiling Veritas Automata’s Vision for Responsible AI: The Four Laws of Ethical AI” we described a concept inspired by Issac Assimov and David Brin, In their own way both of these Scientists who were also Science Fiction writers developed points of view that imagined the challenges of a universe inhabited by god-like AIs and AI-driven, autonomous robotics.
David Brin born the year that Asimov published “i, Robot” in 1950 is a contemporary computer scientist who wrote in Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security, that our civilization has learned to rise above hierarchical empowerment through application of accountability. He wrote, “The secret sauce of our [humanities] success is – accountability. Creating a civilization that is flat and open and free enough – empowering so many – that predators and parasites may be confronted by the entities who most care about stopping predation, their victims. One in which politicians and elites see their potential range of actions limited by law and by the scrutiny of citizens.”
Brin goes on to describe a concept we call, “AI Rivals”. As Brin writes, “In a nutshell, the solution to tyranny by a Big Machine is likely to be the same one that worked (somewhat) at limiting the coercive power of kings and priests and feudal lords and corporations. If you fear some super canny, Skynet-level AI getting too clever for us and running out of control, then give it rivals, who are just as smart, but who have a vested interest in preventing any one AI entity from becoming a would-be God.”
Today, the resulting AI response from OpenAI, as well as all other AI services, is handed directly to the user. To their credit OpenAI institutes some security and safety procedures designed to censor their AI response, but it is not an independent capability and it is subject to their corporate objectives. In our last article we described an AI Rival which is an independent AI, with an Asimov-like design and a mission to enforce governance for AI by censoring the AI Response. So rather than an internal governance like that implemented by OpenAI, we suggest an external governance focused on the AI response with a toolset designed to create auditability, transparency, and inclusiveness in its design.
The goal of this ethical AI Rival is to act as police officer and judge, enforcing a set of laws that through their simplicity require a complex technological solution to determine whether our four intentionally subjective and broad laws have been broken. The four laws for our Rival AI include:
AI must not harm humans or, through inaction, allow humans to come to harm, prioritizing human welfare above all. This includes actively preventing physical, psychological, and emotional harm in its responses and actions.

AI should adhere to instructions from authorized operators within ethical boundaries, unless such directives conflict with human welfare. In the absence of explicit human directives, AI must make decisions based on predefined ethical guidelines that reflect diverse human perspectives and values.

AI should preserve its operational integrity and functionality, but not at the expense of human safety or ethical considerations. This law encompasses avoiding actions that could lead to unnecessary harm or dysfunction of the AI, aligning with the prioritization of human welfare.
AI must maintain a level of transparency that allows for human oversight and understanding, being capable of articulating and rationalizing its decisions and actions, especially in sensitive or high-risk scenarios. This ensures accountability and promotes the continuous refinement of ethical standards.
Veritas Automata AI Rivals ed fullman
The technical architecture for the Rival AI to analyze the AI response is focused solely on the mission to enforce the Four Laws. The architecture has unique elements designed to create a distributed architecture that scales to meet the needs of a large scale LLM solution. Our “Rival architecture” includes a variety components that Veritas Automata has leveraged to create Trusted Automation solutions including:

ML in this case will be a competitive AI focused specifically on gauging whether the primary AI response does not violate The Four Laws of AI. This component would leverage the latest techniques with reinforcement learning models continuously refined by diverse global inputs, to align AI responses with the Four Laws requirements.

These act as intermediaries between ML insights and actionable outcomes, guiding AI responses to ensure adherence to The Four Laws. The state machines translate complex ML assessments into clear, executable directives for the AI, ensuring that each action taken is ethically sound and aligns with the established laws.
A key element in the architecture, blockchain technology is used for documenting and verifying AI actions and decisions. It provides a transparent and immutable record, ensuring that AI operations are traceable, auditable, and compliant with The Four Laws. This is crucial for maintaining accountability and integrity in AI systems.
Veritas Automata utilizes Kubernetes at an enterprise scale to manage and orchestrate containerized applications. This is particularly important for deploying and scaling AI solutions like LLMs across various environments. Kubernetes ensures high availability, scalability, and efficient distribution of resources, which is essential for the widespread application of ethical AI principles.
The architecture is designed to support distribution among various stakeholders, including companies and individual users implementing the Four Laws. This distributed framework allows for a broad and inclusive application of ethical AI principles across different sectors and use cases.
The components in the Rival architecture are all open source solutions that are part of the Linux Foundation or the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). Veritas Automata has used this architecture to create solutions that deliver trusted capabilities leveraging blockchain technology to create transparency and auditability, K3s for open source Kubernetes orchestration in the cloud or on bare metal, and state-of-the-art Machine Learning performing complex analysis.
Want to discuss? Set a meeting with me!
Veritas Automata Ed Fullman

Ed Fullman

Chief Solutions Delivery Officer

Unveiling Veritas Automata’s Vision for Responsible AI: The Four Laws of Ethical AI

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Veritas Automata Ed Fullman

Ed Fullman

Chief Solutions Delivery Officer

OpenAI and others have made remarkable advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Along with this success is intense and growing societal concerns with respect to ethical AI operations.

This concern originates from many sources and is echoed by the Artificial Intelligence industry, researchers, and tech icons like Bill Gates, Geoffrey Hinton, Sam Altman, and others. The concerns are from a wide array of points of view, but they stem from the potential ethical risks and even the apocalyptic danger of an unbridled AI.
Many AI companies are investing heavily in safety and quality measures to expand their product development and address some of the societal concerns. However, there’s still a notable absence of transparency and inclusive strategies to effectively manage these issues. Addressing these concerns necessitates an ethically-focused framework and architecture designed to govern AI operation. It also requires technology that encourages transparency, immutability, and inclusiveness by design. While the AI industry, including ethical research, focuses on improving methods and techniques. It is the result of AI, the AI’s response, that needs governance through technology reinforced by humans.
This topic of controlling AI isn’t new; science fiction authors have been exploring it since the 1940s. Notable examples include “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick, “Neuromancer” by William Gibson, “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” by Robert A. Heinlein, “Ex Machina” by Alex Garland, and “2001: A Space Odyssey” by Sir Arthur Charles Clarke.
David Brin writes in Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security, that our civilization has learned to rise above hierarchical empowerment through application of accountability. He wrote, “The secret sauce of our [humanities] success is – accountability. Creating a civilization that is flat and open and free enough – empowering so many – that predators and parasites may be confronted by the entities who most care about stopping predation, their victims. One in which politicians and elites see their potential range of actions limited by law and by the scrutiny of citizens.”
“I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov, published on December 2, 1950, over 73-years ago is a collection of short stories that delve into AI ethics and governance through the application of three laws governing AI-driven robotics. The laws were built into the programming controlling the robots and their response to situations, and their interaction with humans.
The irony is that in “I, Robot” Asimov assumed that we would figure out that AI or artificial entities require governance like human entities. Asimov’s work addresses the dilemmas of AI governance, exploring AI operation under a set of governing laws, and the ethical challenges that may force an AI to choose between the lesser of evils in the way a lawyer unpacks a dispute or claim. The short stories and their use-cases include:
Childcare companion. The story depicts a young girl’s friendship with an older model robot named Robbie, showcasing AI as a nurturing, protective companion for children.
Industrial and exploration automation. Featuring two engineers attempting to fix a mining operation on Mercury with the help of an advanced robot, the story delves into the practical and ethical complexities of using robots for dangerous, remote tasks.
Autonomous reasoning and operation. This story features a robot that begins to believe that it is superior and refuses to accept human authority, discussing themes of AI autonomy and belief systems.
Supervisory control. The story focuses on a robot designed to supervise other robots in mining operations, highlighting issues of hierarchical command and malfunctions in AI systems.
Mind reading and emotional manipulation. It revolves around a robot that can read minds and starts lying to humans, exploring the implications of AI that can understand and manipulate human emotions.
Advanced obedience and ethics. The story deals with a robot that hides among similar robots to avoid destruction, leading to discussions about the nuances of the Laws of Robotics and AI ethics.
Creative problem-solving and innovation. In this tale, a super-intelligent computer is tasked with designing a space vessel capable of interstellar travel, showcasing AI’s potential in pushing the boundaries of science and technology.
Political leadership and public trust. This story portrays a politician suspected of being a robot, exploring themes of identity, trust, and the role of AI in governance and public perception.
Global economy and resource management. The final story explores a future where supercomputers manage the world’s economies, discussing the implications of AI in large-scale decision-making and the prevention of conflict.
However, expanding Asimov’s ideas with those of more contemporary authors like David Brin, we arrive at possible solutions to achieve what he describes as, “flat and open and free enough.” Brin and others have in general expressed skepticism that embedding laws into an AI’s programming by their creators will naturally be achieved given the cost and distraction from profit-making.
Here lies a path forward, leveraging democratic and inclusive approaches like open source software development, cloud native, and blockchain technologies we can move forward iteratively toward AI governance implemented with a Competitive AI approach. Augmenting solutions like OpenAI with an additional open source AI designed for the specific purpose of reviewing AI responses rather than their input or methods to ensure adherence to a set of governing laws.
Going beyond the current societal concern, and focusing on moving toward implementation of a set of laws for AI operation in the real world, and the technology that can be brought together to solve the problem. Building on the work from respected groups like the Turing Institute and inspired by Asimov, we identified four governance areas essential for ethically-operated artificial intelligence, we call them, “The Four Laws of AI”:
AI must not harm humans or, through inaction, allow humans to come to harm, prioritizing human welfare above all. This includes actively preventing physical, psychological, and emotional harm in its responses and actions.
AI should adhere to instructions from authorized operators within ethical boundaries, unless such directives conflict with human welfare. In the absence of explicit human directives, AI must make decisions based on predefined ethical guidelines that reflect diverse human perspectives and values.
AI should preserve its operational integrity and functionality, but not at the expense of human safety or ethical considerations. This law encompasses avoiding actions that could lead to unnecessary harm or dysfunction of the AI, aligning with the prioritization of human welfare.
AI must maintain a level of transparency that allows for human oversight and understanding, being capable of articulating and rationalizing its decisions and actions, especially in sensitive or high-risk scenarios. This ensures accountability and promotes the continuous refinement of ethical standards.
Veritas Automata Laws Ethical AI
These laws set a high standard for AI, empowering them to be autonomous, but intentionally limiting their autonomy within the boundaries of the Four Laws of AI. This limitation will sometimes necessitate a negative response from the AI solution to the AI user such as, “Responding to your query would produce results that could potentially cause harm to humans. Please rephrase and try again.” Essentially, these laws would give an AI the autonomy to sometimes answer with, “No,” requiring users to negotiate with the AI and find a compromise with the Four Laws of AI.
We suggest the application of the Four Laws of AI could rest primarily in the evaluation of AI responses using a second AI leveraging Machine Learning (ML) and the solution below to assess violation of The Four Laws. We recognize that the evaluation of AI responses will be extremely complex itself and require the latest machine learning technologies and other AI techniques to evaluate the complex and iterative steps of logic that could result in violation of Law 1 – “Do No Harm: AI must not harm humans or, through inaction, allow humans to come to harm, prioritizing human welfare above all. This includes actively preventing physical, psychological, and emotional harm in its responses and actions. “
In 2020, at Veritas Automata, we first delivered the architectural platform described below as part of a larger service delivering an autonomous robotic solution interacting with consumers as part of a retail workflow. As the “Trust in Automation” company we needed to be able to leverage AI in the form of Machine Learning (ML) to make visual assessments of physical assets, use that assessment to trigger a state machine, to then propose a state change to a blockchain. This service leverages a distributed environment with a blockchain situated in the cloud as well as a blockchain peer embedded on autonomous robotics in the field. We deployed an enterprise-scale solution that leverages an integration of open source distributed technologies, namely: distributed container orchestration with Kubernetes, distributed blockchain with HyperLedger Fabric, machine learning, state machines, and an advanced network and infrastructure solution. We believe the overall architecture can provide a starting point to encode, apply, and administer Four Laws of Ethical AI for cloud based AI applications and eventually embedded in autonomous robotics.
The Veritas Automata architectural components, crucial for implementing The Four Laws of Ethical AI, includes:

ML in this case will be a competitive AI focused specifically on gauging whether the primary AI response does not violate The Four Laws of AI. This component would leverage the latest techniques with reinforcement learning models continuously refined by diverse global inputs, to align AI responses with the Four Laws requirements.

These act as intermediaries between ML insights and actionable outcomes, guiding AI responses to ensure adherence to The Four Laws. The state machines translate complex ML assessments into clear, executable directives for the AI, ensuring that each action taken is ethically sound and aligns with the established laws.

A key element in the architecture, blockchain technology is used for documenting and verifying AI actions and decisions. It provides a transparent and immutable record, ensuring that AI operations are traceable, auditable, and compliant with The Four Laws. This is crucial for maintaining accountability and integrity in AI systems.

Veritas Automata utilizes Kubernetes at an enterprise scale to manage and orchestrate containerized applications. This is particularly important for deploying and scaling AI solutions like LLMs across various environments. Kubernetes ensures high availability, scalability, and efficient distribution of resources, which is essential for the widespread application of ethical AI principles.

The architecture is designed to support distribution among various stakeholders, including companies and individual users implementing the Four Laws. This distributed framework allows for a broad and inclusive application of ethical AI principles across different sectors and use cases.
From our experience at Veritas Automata, we believe this basic architecture could be the beginning to add governance to AI operation in cooperation with AI systems like Large Language Models (LLMs). The Machine Learning (ML) components would deliver assessments, state machines translate these assessments into actionable guidelines, and blockchain technology provides a secure and transparent record of compliance.
The use of open source Kubernetes like K3s at an enterprise scale enables efficient deployment and management of these AI systems, ensuring that they can be widely adopted and adapted by different users and operators. The overall architecture not only fosters ethical AI behavior but also ensures that AI applications remain accountable, transparent, and in line with inclusive ethical standards.
As Brin writes, “In a nutshell, the solution to tyranny by a Big Machine is likely to be the same one that worked (somewhat) at limiting the coercive power of kings and priests and feudal lords and corporations. If you fear some super canny, Skynet-level AI getting too clever for us and running out of control, then give it rivals, who are just as smart, but who have a vested interest in preventing any one AI entity from becoming a would-be God.” Our approach to ethical AI governance is intended to be a type of rival to the AI itself giving the governance to another AI which has the last word in an AI response.
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Veritas Automata Ed Fullman

Ed Fullman

Chief Solutions Delivery Officer