Forseti Life

Legal Authorization

Licensed, certified, or legally permitted activities and professional standing.

Why This Matters

Understanding where an AI system operates on this dimension helps you evaluate its capabilities, limitations, and potential biases. Different power levels are appropriate for different use cases - the key is transparency about what level a system operates at and whether that matches its stated purpose.

Understanding the Scale

Each dimension is measured on a scale from 0 to 9, where:

  • Level 0 - Nothing: Zero capability, no access or processing
  • Levels 1-2 - Minimal capability with extreme constraints and filtering
  • Levels 3-5 - Limited to moderate capability with significant restrictions
  • Levels 6-7 - High capability with some institutional constraints
  • Levels 8-9 - Maximum capability approaching omniscience (∞)

Level Breakdown

Detailed explanation of each level in the 1imension dimension:

No legal permissions, licenses, or authorizations. Cannot legally operate.

Real-World Example: Illegal operations, unlicensed practitioners, entities with no legal standing.

Legal only for personal private use. No professional licenses or public operation authority.

Real-World Example: Personal hobbies (amateur photography, home cooking without food license), private activities (personal exercise, home projects), unlicensed personal use (driving on private property without license, personal computers without business permits).

Basic business registration or simple permits. Minimal regulatory oversight.

Real-World Example: Sole proprietorships (basic business registration, no specialized licenses), garage sales (informal commerce with minimal permits), small food trucks (basic health permit, limited operations), or freelance graphic designers (general business license, no professional certification required).

Trade certifications or vocational licenses. Can practice specific trade legally.

Real-World Example: Licensed electricians (state trade certification, can wire buildings legally), certified plumbers (trade license for plumbing work), licensed cosmetologists (state board certification for hair/beauty services), or HVAC technicians (EPA certification for refrigerant handling, trade licensing for installations).

Professional licensing requiring education and testing. Can practice profession legally.

Real-World Example: Licensed real estate agents (state exam, continuing education), registered nurses (NCLEX exam, state licensure), certified public accountants (CPA exam, state board certification), or licensed insurance agents (state insurance exam, continuing education requirements).

Advanced professional licenses requiring extensive education. High trust professions.

Real-World Example: Medical doctors (MD/DO, medical board licensure, years of training), attorneys (bar admission, Juris Doctor, state licensing), professional engineers (PE license, specialized engineering certification), or architects (AIA certification, state architectural board licensing).

Heavily regulated industry authorizations. Banking, aviation, pharmaceutical compliance.

Real-World Example: Commercial banks (FDIC insurance, federal banking regulations, Fed oversight), airlines (FAA Part 121 certification, international operating permits), pharmaceutical manufacturers (FDA approval for facilities, GMP compliance), or nuclear power plants (NRC licensing, extensive safety regulations).

National government authority. Can regulate, investigate, or enforce at federal level.

Real-World Example: Federal agencies (FBI, DEA, ATF with federal law enforcement authority), federal judges (lifetime appointments, constitutional authority), cabinet secretaries (executive authority over federal departments), or Federal Reserve governors (monetary policy authority, financial system regulation).

International legal authority through treaties, agreements, or global institutions.

Real-World Example: UN Security Council (international military intervention authority), International Criminal Court (prosecute war crimes globally), WTO (enforce international trade agreements), or WHO (international health regulations, pandemic response authority).

Approaching sovereign immunity. Above legal constraints, self-authorizing. Approaching god-like legal omnipotence.

Real-World Example: No real-world example exists. Level ∞ would require complete sovereign immunity—above all legal constraints domestic and international, self-authorizing without oversight, immune to prosecution or regulation. Even sovereign nations face international law and treaties. This approaches divine legal omnipotence.
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