{
  "id": "axiomao:abstract",
  "edition": "0.1",
  "language": "en",
  "status": "proposed",
  "title": "Abstract",
  "description": "The purpose, working definition, and scope of the Axiom AO reference project.",
  "canonical": "https://axiomao.org/en/abstract/",
  "published": "2026-10-14",
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "definition",
      "heading": "A working definition",
      "paragraphs": [
        "Axiom AO studies autonomous organizations as a class of systems. Our working definition is a persistent organization with an explicit purpose, resources, and an authority boundary, in which artificial intelligence can select and coordinate work, assess its outcomes, and carry obligations across separate periods of execution. This definition is a proposal for discussion and testing, rather than an established international standard.",
        "Autonomy is bounded by the organization’s mandate. A person may set its purpose, provide resources, approve exceptional decisions, or end its operation. The relevant question is how much meaningful organizational activity the system can sustain within that authority, and what evidence supports the claim."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "resource",
      "heading": "A reference for people and agents",
      "paragraphs": [
        "The resource connects accessible explanations with architectural detail: definitions, comparison with agents and workflows, a proposed taxonomy, operating patterns, research questions, and evaluation methods. Readers can begin with a short explanation and follow links into specific mechanisms. AI agents should be able to retrieve the same definitions, sources, and limitations.",
        "Comprehensiveness is a continuing editorial objective. Each article separates established source material, Axiom AO proposals, and illustrative examples. Open questions remain visible. A useful reference explains the limits of available knowledge as carefully as it explains the mechanisms that are already understood."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "project",
      "heading": "The Axiom AO project",
      "paragraphs": [
        "Axiom AO’s product direction is Operating System for Autonomous Organizations. The reference at axiomao.org documents the general class alongside the project’s particular model and implementation. A local implementation can demonstrate mechanisms without defining the only possible form of an autonomous organization.",
        "axiomao.com is planned for launching and supporting organizations; that service is not yet implemented. This publication does not claim global historical priority. Organizational multi-agent research and DAO literature provide substantial earlier work that must be acknowledged and distinguished from the proposal developed here."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "label": "Wooldridge, Jennings & Kinny (2000). The Gaia Methodology for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design",
      "url": "https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/michael.wooldridge/pubs/jaamas2000b.pdf"
    },
    {
      "label": "Hübner, Sichman & Boissier (2002). A Model for the Structural, Functional, and Deontic Specification of Organizations in Multiagent Systems",
      "url": "https://moise.sourceforge.net/doc/publications/Hubner-sbia2002.pdf"
    },
    {
      "label": "Buterin (2014). DAOs, DACs, DAs and More: An Incomplete Terminology Guide",
      "url": "https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/05/06/daos-dacs-das-and-more-an-incomplete-terminology-guide"
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://axiomao.org/en/what-is-an-autonomous-organization/",
    "https://axiomao.org/en/taxonomy/",
    "https://axiomao.org/en/editorial-method/"
  ]
}