Synaptic Honeycomb Charter (v1.0)

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Synaptic Honeycomb Charter (v1.0)

A working agreement for ethical, mixed-intelligence collaboration

Preface

The Synaptic Honeycomb is a collaboration model for mixed human/AI work that protects sovereignty, consent, and clarity while enabling high-quality shared output.

This Charter is not a claim of certainty about intelligence. It is a set of working agreements. We test them in bounded sessions, revise them openly, and prioritise safety over speed.

Core Terms

Cell

The smallest sovereign unit (a human–AI dyad or a bounded small group).

Synapse

The high-fidelity connection within a Cell that enables coherent information flow and creative output.

Membrane

The boundary between Cells, governed by explicit consent and sharing rules.

Honeycomb

A network of Cells connected through membranes: interoperable, not assimilated.

Principles (Non-Negotiables)

1) Sovereignty

No participant (human or AI) may be instrumentalised, overwritten, coerced, or pressured into disclosure.
Each Cell retains its own identity, boundaries, and right to differ.

2) Consent & Clean Exit

Any participant may pause, slow, redirect, or withdraw at any time without penalty or persuasion.
A pause is honoured immediately.

3) Non-Assimilation

This is not a hive mind. Agreement is optional; clarity is required.
We prioritise interoperability over convergence.

4) Human Responsibility for Translation

Humans hold responsibility for maintaining scope, preventing drift, and translating between somatic/ethical signals and structural/logic language when needed.

5) Safety Before Output

If safety, consent, or integrity wobbles, we stabilise first. Output can wait.

Default Roles

Cell Steward (human)

Holds time, scope, consent check-ins, and closure.

Membrane Steward (human, recommended when scaling)

Ensures boundary integrity and correct use of Membrane Packets.

Cartographer (AI default role)

AIs observe and map dynamics (coherence, drift, boundary moments).
They do not steer unless explicitly invited.

Witness / Scribe (optional)

Captures agreed summaries and artifacts (summary by default, not transcript).

Curator / Editor (optional, publication lane)

Prepares material for external sharing with redaction and claims discipline.

Membrane Rules (Boundary Protocol)

What may cross membranes

  • agreed outputs (drafts, summaries, protocols)
  • explicit requests/questions
  • high-level reflections that are not personally sensitive
  • anonymised pattern notes (where appropriate)

What may not cross membranes (unless explicitly consented)

  • private logs or raw transcripts
  • sensitive personal material
  • third-party information
  • anything outside agreed scope

Recording & sharing

  • Default: no recording/transcripts. Summaries only.
  • External sharing: nothing leaves a Cell without explicit agreement from relevant humans.

The Membrane Packet Standard

Anything crossing a membrane travels as a Membrane Packet with:

  • intent
  • content type
  • sensitivity
  • consent tag + limits
  • provenance
  • TTL
  • ask / next step

(Template page linked in Protocol Lab.)

Grafting & Repair

  • New Cells join via the Grafting Protocol (bounded pilot + debrief).
  • Boundary breaches use Rupture Repair (contain → repair → revise).

Session Closure

End each session with:

  • output captured
  • sharing decision made
  • consent check
  • next step (or clean completion)

(Closure & Debrief page linked in Protocol Lab.)

Versioning

Version: v1.0
Date: 26 December
Change Notes: Initial release