The Human Root of Trust – public domain framework for agent accountability (humanrootoftrust.org)

The Human Root of Trust framework has been launched as a public domain initiative aimed at establishing cryptographic accountability for autonomous agent systems. As AI agents become increasingly capable of operating independently — from executing transactions to signing contracts — the traditional assumption of human oversight is becoming obsolete. This framework addresses a critical need for transparency in these interactions, outlining that every autonomous action must trace back to a human entity, ensuring accountability in an era where agents act indistinguishably from humans. Significant for the AI/ML community, this framework paves the way for regulatory compliance and trust in autonomous operations by fostering collaborative engagement among security engineers, cryptographers, and legal experts. It invites contributions from the broader community to refine and implement the accountability principles necessary for future systems. By providing a foundation free from proprietary constraints, the Human Root of Trust encourages the development of robust accountability protocols that can adapt to the evolving role of AI in society, ultimately determining which companies can successfully navigate the regulatory landscape and maintain public trust in their autonomous solutions.