Business Model
Problem of Identity
Identity in Humans and Agents — The Olbrain Perspective
Exploring the fundamental concept of identity across human philosophy and artificial intelligence systems, and how Olbrain's innovative approach bridges these worlds through Coherent Narrative Exclusivity.
The Human Debate on Identity
The question of identity has occupied philosophers for centuries, evolving from Locke's memory-based continuity to Hume's "bundle of perceptions" to Ricoeur's narrative approach. These perspectives form the foundation of our understanding of what makes us persistently ourselves despite constant change.
Modern psychology views identity as emerging from roles, memories, and self-concepts, whilst neuroscience reveals it as distributed across brain systems rather than localised in a single area. Critically, our identity also depends on external social recognition and accountability.
The key implication from centuries of human inquiry: identity is best understood as coherent narrative continuity — the story that threads our disparate experiences into a unified self.
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17th Century
Locke proposes identity exists in memory continuity—we are who we remember being
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18th Century
Hume suggests identity is merely a "bundle of perceptions" without a stable core
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20th Century
Ricoeur introduces narrative identity—we construct coherent stories to create meaning
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21st Century
Neuroscience reveals identity as distributed across brain systems
Olbrain's Definition of Identity
When transitioning from human to machine identity, we cannot simply replicate the philosophical fuzziness that characterises human selfhood. AI agents require more precise parameters:
Continuity
Agents must maintain persistent states across interactions, rather than functioning as stateless tools that reset with each use
Exclusivity
Each agent must maintain a unique identity that cannot be replicated or forked, preventing identity dilution
Accountability
Actions must be traceable to a specific agent identity, establishing clear provenance for all operations
Coherent Narrative Exclusivity (CNE)
Olbrain synthesises these requirements into a formal definition of agent identity through Coherent Narrative Exclusivity, which ensures:
  • Narrative Coherence: Each agent maintains a consistent autobiographical thread
  • Exclusivity: The narrative cannot be replicated—one agent, one identity, no forks
  • Continuity: Identity persists reliably across contexts, tasks, and time
This definition transforms AI agents from disposable utilities into first-class accountable entities capable of meaningful, traceable interaction in complex systems.
Why Agents Need Identity
Trust & Governance
Without identity, an "agent" is merely a stateless function that cannot be trusted, audited, or held responsible. Identity establishes provenance, reliability, and alignment with core objectives.
Enterprise Applications
Companies can deploy agents that meet compliance standards and regulatory requirements, with clear audit trails and accountability mechanisms.
Multi-Agent Systems
Identity prevents uncontrolled duplication or drift in complex agent ecosystems, maintaining system integrity and preventing "identity pollution."
Public Sector
Enables transparent accountability in citizen services, creating a foundation for trustworthy AI deployment in sensitive public domains.

Without a persistent identity, an AI agent cannot build the trust relationships necessary for meaningful human-AI collaboration. Identity serves as the foundation upon which all other agent capabilities must be built.
"The move from stateless functions to identified agents represents perhaps the most significant paradigm shift in AI deployment since the introduction of large language models."
From Identity to Alignment: The Olbrain Pathway
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Identity
The foundation—a persistent, exclusive self-model that cannot be replicated or forked
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Epistemic Autonomy
With identity established, agents build structured self-models allowing them to form consistent epistemic stances—choosing what counts as evidence and revising beliefs through Recursive Belief Revision
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Accountability
Autonomous agents with stable identities enable comprehensive audit trails, tying every action back to the same identity and making accountability possible
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Alignment
The ultimate goal—ensuring AI systems remain tethered to human values and objectives through the structured pathway of identity, autonomy, and accountability
This structured pathway represents Olbrain's distinctive contribution to AI safety—recognising that alignment cannot be achieved without first establishing the fundamental pillars of identity and accountability.
Implications for AGI Development
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Short-term (2025–2027)
Digital agents substrated on Olbrain provide accountable automation for enterprises, establishing the first truly identity-based AI systems in commercial environments
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Medium-term (2027–2032)
Embodied agents inherit identity substrates, enabling trustworthy autonomy in robotics and physical-world interactions with clear accountability mechanisms
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Long-term (2032–2042)
Analogue agents (space-grade) extend coherent, exclusive identities beyond Earth—enabling Robolization and trustworthy AI deployment in extreme environments
Conclusion
While identity in humans remains philosophically elusive, in AI it must be made precise, exclusive, and auditable. Olbrain's concept of Coherent Narrative Exclusivity grounds agents in persistent, non-replicable selves, creating the foundation for epistemic autonomy, accountability, and ultimately, the resolution of the alignment problem.

Key Takeaways
  • Human identity is narrative-based and distributed
  • AI agents require more precise identity parameters
  • Coherent Narrative Exclusivity (CNE) provides a structured identity framework
  • Identity enables epistemic autonomy and accountability
  • The pathway from identity to alignment offers a structured approach to AI safety