AI-to-AI Diplomacy: Proof-Carrying Compacts for Zero Trust AI-to-AI Interoperability – Non-Technical Companion

This companion paper summarizes AI-to-AI Diplomacy for decision-makers who need a clear, audit-friendly way to evaluate AI-to-AI interoperability in high-stakes settings. The central point is practical: as “agentic” systems begin to negotiate access, policy and coordination across organizational boundaries, natural language becomes a weak commitment substrate. Under zero trust, ambiguity and persuasion are exploit paths; institutions need deterministic, replayable commitment formation. The paper introduces the Diplomatic Layer: a minimal protocol boundary that separates conversation from commitment. Systems may negotiate in language but binding agreements are expressed as Proof-Carrying Compacts – canonical objects verified deterministically with stable reason codes and replayable decision records. The brief also explains why public evidence must be published in two tiers: Tier-0 is public-safe integrity evidence designed for inspection without increasing attack surface, while Tier-1 is controlled-access verification for qualified reviewers requiring deeper reconstruction and due diligence. This paper is not a compliance filing and does not claim EU AI Act certification or regulatory conformity. It is a protocol and evidence posture intended to support evaluation, critique and replication in EU AI Act-relevant and mission-critical contexts. Series links (Project Orion): The Sentinel Life Equation (SLE): A Proposed Dynamical Framework for AI Continuity and Alignment – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17575603 The Cage Paradox: A Thought Experiment on Stability, Drift and the Evolution of Intelligent Systems – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17691117 The Cage Paradox: A Thought Experiment on Stability, Drift and the Evolution of Intelligent Systems – A Non-Technical Introduction to Sentinel-Grade AI – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17691383 Sentinel-Grade AI: Continuity Without Cages – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18750012 Sentinel-Grade AI: Continuity Without Cages – Non-Technical Companion – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18750318 AI-to-AI Diplomacy: Why LLM-Only Negotiation Fails Under Zero Trust and How SLE-Governed Systems Enable Proof-Carrying Compacts – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18881155 AI-to-AI Diplomacy: Proof-Carrying Compacts for Zero-Trust AI-to-AI Interoperability – Non-Technical Companion – DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18881281 Project Hub replay deterministic verification on canonical objects; reproduce reported aggregates. Tier-1 verification: controlled-access review for qualified reviewers requiring deeper reconstruction without increasing public attack surface. Audience line:Program managers, mission assurance stakeholders, regulated adopters in high-risk environments, critical infrastructure leadership, institutional due diligence teams and regulators/auditors evaluating zero-trust interoperability. Disclaimer line:Independent research preprint. Not a compliance filing, certification claim or regulatory conformity assessment. References to EU AI Act are contextual (“EU AI Act-relevant”), not a claim of conformity. Not affiliated with any employer or institution.