Terminology and definitions derive from the canonical authorship defined in Authorship & Canonical Declaration.
This Thesaurus is a normative reference for the Agent ID Standard v0.2.
All core terms used in the standard and registry derive their meaning from this document.
This document defines the core terminology used across the Agent ID standard, registry, and related documents.
Its purpose is semantic stability. It does not prescribe interpretation, ideology, or governance.
A semi-autonomous entity that performs actions on behalf of a human or organization and produces effects in socio-technical reality.
An agent is not merely software. An agent is an actor whose actions have consequences beyond execution.
A globally unique, persistent identifier assigned to an artificial agent.
Agent ID enables reference, attribution, and continuity. It does not imply authority, intelligence, or legitimacy.
A stable reference that distinguishes one agent from all others across time, platforms, and implementations.
Identity answers the question: “Which agent is this?”
The explicit attribution of authority to an agent by a human or organization.
Delegation defines scope and boundaries, not outcomes.
The recorded association between an agent’s actions and a responsible human or organization.
Delegated responsibility does not assign legal liability. It establishes attribution.
A human or organization that declares responsibility for an agent’s existence and delegated scope.
No agent exists in the registry without a responsible principal.
The declared boundaries within which an agent is authorized to operate.
Actions outside scope are explicitly non-attributable.
A declarative, archival system that records agent identity, delegation, and metadata.
The registry defines existence, not behavior.
A reference to an external system (e.g. cryptographic hash, blockchain transaction) used to provide immutable proof of existence.
Anchoring does not define meaning or authority.
Semantic interpretation defined by the standard and registry.
Meaning exists independently of technical enforcement or proof.
External verification mechanisms that demonstrate existence or integrity.
Proof does not create meaning. Proof supports claims of existence.
The registry defines meaning.
External systems may provide proof.
Meaning MUST NOT depend on proof mechanisms.
This Thesaurus is normative.
Use of Agent ID terminology outside the definitions contained herein constitutes non-compliance with the Agent ID standard.
Status: Draft
Version: v0.1
Maintained by: aiagentid.org