Consent Chain Degradation in Embodied Multi-Agent Systems: Bridging the Gap Between AI Agent Governance and Robot Ethics

2026-05-19 · Source: cs.MA updates on arXiv.org · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, AI Governance & Ethics · Depth: Expert, extended

Summary

This paper introduces the concept of consent chain degradation (CCD) within embodied multi-agent robotic systems, addressing a critical governance gap in existing AI ethics and human-robot interaction (HRI) frameworks. As robots transition from isolated platforms to interconnected ecosystems, human consent for actions can erode through delegation chains between autonomous agents, especially given the physical and often irreversible nature of robotic actions. The authors propose a three-layer architecture called the Consent Runtime Verification Framework for Embodied Agents (CoRVE). This framework integrates a Consent Scope Model (CSM) for structured consent representation, a Delegation Chain Tracker (DCT) to monitor provenance and scope creep, and a Physical Irreversibility Assessor (PIA) to classify actions by their reversibility. The paper demonstrates CCD through scenarios in healthcare, domestic, and industrial robotics, including a numerical example, and highlights regulatory gaps in instruments like the EU AI Act and GDPR.

Key takeaway

For CTOs and VPs of Engineering deploying multi-robot systems in human environments, you must implement robust consent verification. Your systems should incorporate mechanisms like CoRVE to track consent degradation, assess action irreversibility, and trigger re-consent for high-risk or irreversible physical actions, ensuring compliance and maintaining human autonomy.

Key insights

Human consent degrades in multi-robot delegation chains, necessitating real-time verification for embodied AI systems.

Principles

• Robotic actions' physical irreversibility elevates consent stakes.
• Consent is time-bound and context-dependent.
• Delegation depth increases original consent opacity.

Method

CoRVE is a three-layer architecture: Consent Scope Model (CSM) for structured consent, Delegation Chain Tracker (DCT) for provenance and scope creep, and Physical Irreversibility Assessor (PIA) for action reversibility.

In practice

• Implement a "no delegation" default for consent.
• Classify robotic actions by irreversibility (e.g., Tier 1-3).
• Track consent scope creep in multi-agent systems.

Topics

• Embodied Multi-Agent Systems
• Consent Chain Degradation
• AI Agent Governance
• Robot Ethics
• Consent Runtime Verification Framework

Best for: Research Scientist, CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, AI Scientist, AI Ethicist, Legal Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by cs.MA updates on arXiv.org.