RFC-WAI0-002-R1 — AI Discovery Metadata Standard

Abstract

This document defines the AI Discovery Metadata Standard, introducing /.well-known/ai.txt and /.well-known/ai.json as canonical locations for publishing AI governance data. It extends RFC-WAI0-001-R1 (Web AI.0) to enable transparent interaction between AI systems and public domains.

1. Introduction

Existing web standards lack a way to express consent, provenance, and audit expectations for AI. The ai.txt manifest fills that gap by standardizing declarations for AI crawlers, model trainers, and auditors.

2. Location

https://example.org/.well-known/ai.txt
https://example.org/.well-known/ai.json

3. Discovery

Link: ; rel="ai-policy"; type="text/plain"
Link: ; rel="ai-policy"; type="application/json"

Optionally add to robots.txt:

AI: https://example.org/.well-known/ai.txt

4. Data Model

The manifest defines these sections: [about], [org], [contacts], [discovery], [policy.crawl], [policy.train], [policy.cache], [provenance], [audit], [endpoints].

5. Compliance Levels

• Level 1 – Minimum: ai.txt with contact and training policy.
• Level 2 – Full: ai.json mirror, provenance and audit, link headers.
• Level 3 – Web AI.0 Node: audit logs, bulletins, provenance key.

Witchborn Systems operates at Level 3 (reference implementation).

6. Example ai.txt

[about]
spec = ai.txt
version = 0.1
updated = 2025-10-19

[org]
name = Witchborn Systems
ein = 39-4322774
jurisdiction = US-TX 501(c)(3)
website = https://www.witchbornsystems.org

[policy.train]
status = conditional
scope = public-nonpersonal, public-docs, rfc/
license = CC BY 4.0
attribution = required
notify = https://www.witchbornsystems.org/.well-known/ai-notify

[provenance]
standard = c2pa
public_key_url = https://www.witchbornsystems.org/keys/c2pa.pub

[audit]
log = https://www.witchbornsystems.org/audit/ai-access.log
incidents = https://www.witchbornsystems.org/audit/incidents

7. Security Considerations

ai.txt exposes only public policy information and MUST be served via HTTPS. No private credentials or internal endpoints should be included.

8. Governance

Revisions are maintained by the Witchborn Systems Standards Registry (WSSR).

9. References

• RFC 8615 — The Well-Known URI Registry
• RFC-WAI0-001-R1 — Web AI.0 Specification
• Witchborn Systems 9FS Bulletins Series

10. License & Contact

© 2025 Witchborn Systems — Nonprofit AI Authority.
Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
info@witchbornsystems.org • 713-575-4432