The New Intelligent Covenant

The New Intelligent Covenant

The intellectual framework of The Intelligence Covenant Institute. Three principles form the foundation; seven organisational layers make it applicable.

Three principles

The New Intelligent Covenant is the thinking framework of The Intelligence Covenant Institute - not separate from the Institute, but the intellectual basis on which publications and NIC Advisory build.

Seven organisational layers

The Covenant model helps organisations design their own social contract with AI - layer by layer.

  1. 01

    Context

    Define where AI is used and which public, professional, or commercial value is central.

    Which value should AI serve here?

  2. 02

    Inventory

    Map AI tools, AI functions, shadow AI, and relevant vendors.

    Which AI is already being used in practice?

  3. 03

    Norms

    Formulate what responsible use means in this specific context.

    What do we call responsible use?

  4. 04

    Guardrails

    Set data boundaries, tool selection, human control, documentation, and escalation.

    Which data, decisions and processes need firm boundaries?

  5. 05

    AI self-reliance

    Train students, employees, or professionals in critical, safe, and productive AI use.

    Who must be able to assess what?

  6. 06

    Checks and balances

    Organise monitoring, incident review, bias checks, privacy assessment, and feedback loops.

    Who sees whether it works?

  7. 07

    Recovery and learning

    Provide objection, correction, decommissioning, and periodic review of policy and practice.

    How do we correct harm or wrong decisions?