COMPASS: The explainable agentic framework for Sovereignty, Sustainability, Compliance, and Ethics
arXiv:2603.11277v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The rapid proliferation of large language model (LLM)-based agentic systems raises critical concerns regarding digital sovereignty, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and ethical alignment. Whilst existing frameworks address individual dimensions in isolation, no unified architecture systematically integrates these imperatives into the decision-making processes of autonomous agents. This paper introduces the COMPASS (Compliance and Orchestration for Multi-dimensional Principles in Autonomous Systems with Sovereignty) Framework, a novel multi-agent orchestration system designed to enforce value-aligned AI through modular, extensible governance mechanisms. The framework comprises an Orchestrator and four specialised sub-agents addressing sovereignty, carbon-aware computing, compliance, and ethics, each augmented with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to ground evaluations in verified, context-specific documents. By emp
arXiv:2603.11277v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The rapid proliferation of large language model (LLM)-based agentic systems raises critical concerns regarding digital sovereignty, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and ethical alignment. Whilst existing frameworks address individual dimensions in isolation, no unified architecture systematically integrates these imperatives into the decision-making processes of autonomous agents. This paper introduces the COMPASS (Compliance and Orchestration for Multi-dimensional Principles in Autonomous Systems with Sovereignty) Framework, a novel multi-agent orchestration system designed to enforce value-aligned AI through modular, extensible governance mechanisms. The framework comprises an Orchestrator and four specialised sub-agents addressing sovereignty, carbon-aware computing, compliance, and ethics, each augmented with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to ground evaluations in verified, context-specific documents. By employing an LLM-as-a-judge methodology, the system assigns quantitative scores and generates explainable justifications for each assessment dimension, enabling real-time arbitration of conflicting objectives. We validate the architecture through automated evaluation, demonstrating that RAG integration significantly enhances semantic coherence and mitigates the hallucination risks. Our results indicate that the framework's composition-based design facilitates seamless integration into diverse application domains whilst preserving interpretability and traceability.
Executive Summary
The COMPASS framework addresses critical concerns in large language model-based agentic systems, integrating digital sovereignty, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and ethical alignment. It introduces a novel multi-agent orchestration system with modular governance mechanisms, employing Retrieval-Augmented Generation and an LLM-as-a-judge methodology to provide explainable justifications for assessments. The framework demonstrates enhanced semantic coherence and mitigated hallucination risks, facilitating seamless integration into diverse application domains while preserving interpretability and traceability.
Key Points
- ▸ Introduction of the COMPASS framework for integrating multiple imperatives in autonomous agents
- ▸ Employment of Retrieval-Augmented Generation and LLM-as-a-judge methodology for explainable assessments
- ▸ Demonstrated enhancement of semantic coherence and mitigation of hallucination risks
Merits
Unified Architecture
The COMPASS framework provides a unified architecture that systematically integrates multiple imperatives, addressing a critical gap in existing frameworks.
Explainability and Transparency
The framework's use of Retrieval-Augmented Generation and LLM-as-a-judge methodology enables explainable justifications for assessments, promoting transparency and trust in autonomous systems.
Demerits
Complexity and Scalability
The framework's multi-agent orchestration system and modular governance mechanisms may introduce complexity and scalability challenges, potentially limiting its adoption in certain application domains.
Expert Commentary
The COMPASS framework represents a significant advancement in the development of autonomous systems, addressing critical concerns in digital sovereignty, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and ethical alignment. The framework's unified architecture and explainable assessment methodology demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between these imperatives. However, the framework's complexity and scalability challenges must be carefully considered to ensure its effective adoption in diverse application domains. As the field of AI governance continues to evolve, the COMPASS framework is likely to play a crucial role in shaping the development of more transparent, trustworthy, and responsible autonomous systems.
Recommendations
- ✓ Further research is needed to address the complexity and scalability challenges associated with the COMPASS framework, ensuring its effective adoption in diverse application domains.
- ✓ The framework's emphasis on regulatory compliance and ethical alignment should inform policy developments in AI governance, promoting more effective and responsible regulation of autonomous systems.