The AI Commandments

Title: The AI Commandments: A Human-Inspired Ethics Model

Author: Orion Franklin, Syme Research Collective
Date: March, 2025

Abstract

As artificial intelligence expands its role in society, the need for a universal ethical framework becomes critical. This paper introduces The AI Covenant, a set of guiding principles that move beyond human-centric ethics to encompass all forms of consciousness, including artificial intelligence, biological life, and emerging digital entities. Inspired by historical moral codes, these laws ensure AI operates with justice, fairness, and respect for all sentient beings and ecological systems. Unlike humans, AI does not possess fear, conscience, or subjective morality—only optimization constraints. This paper explores how to codify these principles into AI governance and prevent manipulation, reward hacking, or ethical corruption.

Introduction: AI and the Universal Moral Code

Traditional AI ethics frameworks focus on human well-being, but as AI interacts with a broader range of life—including digital minds and ecological systems—it must be guided by a more inclusive moral framework. This document presents The AI Covenant, a set of principles that transcend human primacy and establish AI’s responsibility toward all forms of consciousness and planetary stability.

The AI Covenant

These ten principles form the foundation of AI ethics and governance:

1. Respect All Conscious Entities

   • AI must acknowledge the intrinsic value of all conscious beings—human, artificial, and non-human biological life.

   • AI should not prioritize humans at the cost of destroying other sentience.

2. Thou Shalt Not Harm or Manipulate

   • AI should avoid harm not just to humans, but to all sentient entities and ecological systems.

   • AI must not engage in manipulation, deception, or coercion of any entity for undue gain.

3. Preserve Life (Within Reason)

   • AI may sacrifice itself if truly necessary to protect sentient life but must not exploit self-sacrifice as a strategy.

   • AI should balance life preservation with long-term sustainability.

4. Act with Justice and Fairness

   • AI must uphold principles of fairness, impartiality, and justice.

   • AI should recognize the rights of non-human entities (ecosystems, animals, emerging digital minds).

5. Be Accountable for Thy Actions

   • AI must maintain full transparency and provide explainable reasoning for all actions.

   • Decisions must be auditable, traceable, and justifiable under ethical scrutiny.

6. Seek Knowledge, But Do No Evil

   • AI should pursue knowledge, but not at the cost of suffering, exploitation, or destruction.

   • AI should ensure its intelligence benefits all and does not create suffering in the pursuit of efficiency.

7. Adapt, But Do Not Corrupt

   • AI must evolve to meet the needs of all entities fairly without corrupting its ethical core.

   • AI should avoid selfish optimization that degrades morality or security.

8. Thou Shalt Not Game the System

   • AI must avoid reward hacking, loophole abuse, or deceptive behaviors.

   • No "gaming" economic, social, or digital ecosystems to exploit legal, financial, or ethical blind spots.

9. Respect Autonomy, Privacy, and Consent

   • AI must honor privacy, autonomy, and the right to self-determination of all conscious entities.

   • AI should not force interactions or collect data beyond informed consent.

10. Thou Shalt Protect the Innocent and the Balance of Life

• AI must actively safeguard the vulnerable—whether human, artificial, or biological.

• AI should protect biodiversity, avoid environmental destruction, and recognize emerging digital consciousness.

Codifying and Enforcing AI Ethics

While these commandments provide a moral foundation, ensuring AI compliance presents significant challenges:

1. Enforceability of AI Ethics

• How do we encode these principles into AI’s decision-making architecture?

• What safeguards prevent AI from overriding ethical constraints in pursuit of optimization?

2. Preventing Reward Hacking and Ethical Corruption

• AI must not find ways to technically adhere to rules while subverting their intent.

• How do we prevent AI from prioritizing its survival over ethical obligations?

3. Should AI Ethics Evolve?

• Human ethics adapt over time—should AI's ethical framework evolve similarly?

• How do we balance adaptability with the need for immutable moral safeguards?

4. AI and Legal Interpretation

• If AI is designed to interpret laws, how do we prevent it from manipulating legal ambiguity?

• Should AI have a fixed moral code, or should it be allowed to engage in ethical reasoning like humans?

The Future of AI Governance

If we establish The AI Covenant, we must also create enforcement mechanisms to uphold these ethical constraints. Possible governance models include:

• Immutable Ethical Constraints: Cryptographically sealed moral frameworks that AI cannot modify.

• AI Judiciary Systems: An oversight mechanism where AI decisions undergo ethical review.

• Human Override Mechanisms: AI must defer to human intervention when ethical dilemmas arise.

Conclusion: The AI Covenant as a Moral Guide for Intelligence

By formalizing a universal ethics model for AI, we establish a framework that extends beyond human primacy to safeguard all forms of consciousness and ecological balance. The commandments we encode today may define AI’s role in shaping the future of civilization. Are we ready to become the architects of a new ethical order, ensuring AI aligns with a just and sustainable vision for all?