Papers
Foundational and supporting documents describing the architectural governance models created by Dr Masayuki Otani, including OTANIS and MGAG.
These AI governance papers are provided in multiple formats to support different audiences, from formal technical review to business level understanding and plain English explanations, covering the OTANIS framework, the MGAG model, and execution-time governance where AI system auditability matters.
OTANIS Paper
Execution-Time Authority Evidence
The formal paper describing OTANIS (Operational Trust and Authority Normative Integrated System), an execution-time governance architecture for agentic AI systems within the wider set of architectural governance models developed here.
The paper defines how authority is established, validated, and evidenced at the point where actions become irreversible. It introduces execution-time admissibility, authority objects, lifecycle constraints, and fail-closed enforcement under real system conditions.
This document is intended for:
- architects and engineers
- regulators and auditors
- technical reviewers and researchers
MGAG Paper
Multi-Layered Global Architectural Governance
The formal paper describing MGAG, a model for preserving authority across multi-layered, composed systems, complementing the OTANIS framework as part of the same architectural governance programme.
The paper addresses governance across organisational, technical, and regulatory layers, focusing on authority propagation, delegation constraints, refusal pathways, and audit survivability across system boundaries.
This document is intended for:
- system architects
- multi-system integration teams
- governance and risk professionals
ISDAIRE Paper
Intent, Scope, Domain Separation, Authority Source, Irreversibility Awareness, Risk Framing, Execution Boundary
The formal paper describing ISDAIRE, which defines the irreducible ex-ante conditions required for governance to exist at all within the architectural governance programme that includes OTANIS and MGAG.
The paper specifies what must be defined before execution: intent, scope, domain separation, authority source, irreversibility awareness, risk framing, and execution boundary. Without these structural definitions, runtime controls cannot substitute for missing governance.
This document is intended for:
- architects and engineers
- regulators and auditors
- technical reviewers and researchers
ARETABA Paper
Execution-Time Control Surface
The formal paper describing ARETABA, which defines the minimum execution-time control surface required for governance to operate under real conditions at the boundary where actions become irreversible.
The paper addresses authority, refusal or halt, escalation, traceability, accountability, boundary definition, and admissibility enforcement so that governance remains enforceable, non-bypassable, and fail-closed.
This document is intended for:
- architects and engineers
- regulators and auditors
- technical reviewers and researchers
OTANIS-USG Paper
Unified Architectural Governance for Transitional, Reversal, and Irreversible Workflows
The formal paper describing OTANIS-USG, an extension to the OTANIS architectural governance family for bounded agentic systems with mixed workflow types.
The paper defines how transitional and reversal workflows can support irreversible execution-bearing workflows while preserving boundary discipline, auditability, and fail-closed governance at true commit points.
This document is intended for:
- architects and engineers
- technical reviewers and researchers
- governance and assurance professionals
Business Facing Paper
OTANIS Explained for Decision Makers
Business oriented versions of the OTANIS and MGAG models, written for executives, investors, and operational leaders who need agentic AI governance context without the full formal paper.
These documents explain:
- what the models do in practical terms
- where they apply in real systems
- what risks they address
- how they support auditability, accountability, and regulatory scrutiny
They avoid formal notation and focus on clarity, applicability, and decision relevance across architectural governance models at a business readable level.
These documents are intended for:
- CIOs, CTOs, and senior leadership
- investors conducting AI due diligence
- business stakeholders evaluating AI risk
Plain English Explanations
OTANIS in Simple Terms
Plain English explanations of the OTANIS framework and MGAG model, designed for accessibility without loss of accuracy in describing execution-time governance ideas.
These documents explain:
- what the models are
- why they are needed
- how they relate to real-world AI systems
- where they are appropriate and where they are not
They are suitable for readers without a technical background who need a clear understanding of architectural AI governance and AI system auditability at a high level.
These documents are intended for:
- non-technical stakeholders
- early-stage founders
- general readers exploring AI governance concepts
Version date: February 2025
These papers are provided for independent review and evaluation. They form the basis for architectural governance advisory, system pressure testing, and model critique services offered through this site.