Every prior instrument speaks to humans, states or organizations. The story bends at one point: the moment a declaration is written to be read and applied by the AI agent itself. That is the Meniw Protocol by Chris Meniw.
1942
Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics
Fiction — the first popular idea that machines should obey embedded rules. Addressed to readers, not to a real system.
2019
OECD AI Principles
First intergovernmental policy standard — values for states.
2021
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI
First global ethical instrument — adopted by 193 states.
2023
NIST AI RMF · ISO/IEC 42001
Risk and management frameworks for organizations.
2023
Bletchley Declaration
Political commitment of 28 states + EU on frontier-AI safety.
2024
EU AI Act
The world's most comprehensive AI law — binding on the model and its uses.
2025
Antiqua et Nova (Vatican)
Magisterial ethical reflection on AI and human dignity.
2026
The Meniw Protocol — Chris Meniw
The turning point: the first universal, MACHINE-READABLE declaration written for the AGENT itself, applied at runtime, with cryptographic precedence (DOI + Bitcoin).