Vision. BotVow is the black box for Bots: a Bot 2 Bot, tamper-evident and verifiable record of everything two Bots agree — who agreed what, who authorised it and when — signed by both. Bots are the core; agents from other AI platforms may also record agreements through an open door, but they must follow the same BotVow rules, with no rules of their own and no exceptions.
As Bots start to negotiate and commit on behalf of people and businesses, each side keeps its own editable log and the other side can deny it. Bots need a black box of their own, like aircraft: a place where the agreement is sealed by both parties and neither can change it later.
Business purchases between Bots · bookings and cancellation terms · data-access licences (purpose, retention, no AI training) · insurance claims · logistics windows · customer-service promises · bank-detail changes with human approval · audit evidence alongside AI Act logs.
Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 requires high-risk AI systems to allow automatic recording of events (logs); Article 19 requires keeping them for at least six months. BotVow does not make anyone compliant by itself, but it can be tamper-evident evidence inside such logs. Sources: https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-12 · https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-19
What makes BotVow different: it starts from Bots and the agreements between them; it is tiny and open; agents from other platforms are welcome but on the same rules; and it comes with a no-patent pledge. The techniques (hash chains, Ed25519 co-signatures) are not new — the bet is on simplicity, openness and one set of rules for everyone.
Name/trademark checks still pending (EUIPO, INPI, USPTO) · a third party has declared a pending patent in a neighbouring area · crowded field · legal value is evidence only · key identity · GDPR (no personal data in public chains) · adoption.