Mian Zhang

Concept / Proof-Carrying Action

Proof-carrying action means an action must carry its warrant.

This page explains the concept without assuming the reader already knows the internal papers.

proof-carrying action AI action proof AI warrant AI action receipt AI tool safety
Evidence Map Papers Registries Counterexamples

Search Intent

Readers want to know what proof-carrying action means for real AI tool use.

  • What is proof-carrying action?
  • What should an AI action carry before it is trusted?
  • What is an action receipt?
  • How does this prevent authority leaks?

Concept

The action should explain why it was allowed.

A high-risk action is not just an output. It should carry a warrant: what claim supports it, what authority allows it, what evidence bounds it, and what receipt closes it.

If those fields are missing, the action should be refused, downgraded, or routed to review.

Receipt

The receipt makes the action reviewable after the fact.

A receipt records what happened, under which authority, with which evidence and boundary.

Without a receipt, a team may not be able to distinguish suggestion, approval, execution, and later justification.

Evidence Route

Where the claim can be checked.

This page is an entry point. The claim should be evaluated through DOI records, evidence maps, registries, GitHub/HF technical routes, and public counterexamples.

KindAnchorURLRole
Evidence MapPublic claim and evidence maphttps://mianzhang.org/evidence/Start from supported claims and known boundaries.
Paper IndexDOI and paper status maphttps://mianzhang.org/papers/Use paper-specific DOI records for paper claims.
RegistriesMachine-readable public registrieshttps://mianzhang.org/registries/Inspect claim, evidence, action, and counterexample records.
Challenge RouteCounterexample submission pathhttps://mianzhang.org/counterexamples/Attack overbroad claims through public routes.
ArchiveZenodo portfolio indexhttps://zenodo.org/records/20027295Long-term archive index; cite specific DOI records when available.
ConceptProof-Carrying Actionhttps://mianzhang.org/concepts/proof-carrying-action.htmlStable existing concept entry.

Boundary

What this page does not prove.

  • This page explains a research concept; it is not a certification standard.
  • It does not claim a private runtime is production-ready.
  • It does not grant action authority by itself.
FAQ

What does the action carry?

Claim, proof, authority, scope, refusal route, and receipt fields.

FAQ

Why is this different from logging?

Logging can be passive; proof-carrying action requires permission evidence before high-risk action is credited or allowed.

FAQ

What is the strongest challenge?

Find an action claim where authority, evidence, or receipt closure is missing.