docs/ACCESSIBLE_GUIDE.md

CASCADE-LATTICE: An Accessible Guide

From Math Theory to Working AI System

What Is This?

CASCADE-LATTICE is a system that makes AI transparent and controllable. Think of it like a "flight recorder" for AI decisions—every choice an AI makes is recorded in a way that can't be faked, and humans can pause the AI at any time to override its decisions.

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The Core Idea (For Everyone)

Imagine you're teaching a student to solve math problems step-by-step. Each step builds on the last:

Step 1: 2 + 3 = 5
Step 2: 5 × 4 = 20
Step 3: 20 - 7 = 13

CASCADE-LATTICE watches AI "thinking" the same way:

Input: "What's in this image?"
Layer 1: Detect edges
Layer 2: Recognize shapes
Layer 3: Identify objects
Output: "It's a cat"

Two key innovations:

1. Provenance: Every step is cryptographically hashed (think: fingerprinted) and linked to the previous step. This creates an unbreakable chain of evidence.

2. HOLD: At critical decision points, the AI pauses and shows you what it's about to do. You can accept it or override with your own choice.

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The Core Idea (For Data Scientists)

CASCADE-LATTICE maps neural network computation to Kleene fixed-point iteration. Here's the mathematical elegance:

Neural Networks ARE Fixed-Point Computations

A forward pass through a neural network:

output = layer_n(layer_{n-1}(...(layer_1(input))))

Is equivalent to iterating a function f from bottom element ⊥:

⊥ → f(⊥) → f²(⊥) → f³(⊥) → ... → fix(f)

Where:

• Domain: Activation space (ℝⁿ with pointwise ordering)
• Function f: Layer transformation
• Fixed point: Final prediction

Why This Matters

1. Monotonicity: ReLU layers are monotonic functions → guaranteed convergence
2. Least Fixed Point: Kleene theorem guarantees we reach the "smallest" valid solution
3. Provenance = Iteration Trace: Each step in the chain is a provenance record

The Provenance Chain

# Each layer creates a record
record = ProvenanceRecord(
    layer_name="transformer.layer.5",
    state_hash=hash(activation),      # H(fⁱ(⊥))
    parent_hashes=[previous_hash],    # H(fⁱ⁻¹(⊥))
    execution_order=i                 # Iteration index
)

These records form a Merkle tree—the root uniquely identifies the entire computation:

Merkle Root = M(fix(f))

Cryptographic guarantee: Different computation → Different root (with probability 1 - 2⁻²⁵⁶)

---

The Architecture (Everyone)

Think of CASCADE-LATTICE as having three layers:

Layer 1: OBSERVE

What it does: Records everything an AI does

Analogy: Like a security camera for AI decisions

Example:

# AI makes a decision
result = ai_model.predict(data)

# CASCADE automatically records it
observe("my_ai", {"input": data, "output": result})

Layer 2: HOLD

What it does: Pauses AI at decision points

Analogy: Like having a "pause button" during a video game where you can see the AI's plan and change it

Example:

# AI is about to choose an action
action_probabilities = [0.1, 0.7, 0.2]  # 70% sure about action #1

# Pause and show human
resolution = hold.yield_point(
    action_probs=action_probabilities,
    observation=current_state
)

# Human sees: "AI wants action #1 (70% confidence)"
# Human can: Accept, or override with action #0 or #2

Layer 3: LATTICE

What it does: Connects multiple AIs into a knowledge network

Analogy: Like Wikipedia but for AI experiences—one AI's learnings become available to all others

Example:

# Robot A explores a maze
observe("robot_a", {"location": (5, 10), "obstacle": True})

# Robot B later queries and learns from A's experience
past_experiences = query("robot_a")

---

The Architecture (Data Scientists)

Component Breakdown

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│             CASCADE-LATTICE Stack                  │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                    │
│  Application Layer                                │
│  ├─ OBSERVE: Provenance tracking API             │
│  ├─ HOLD: Intervention protocol                   │
│  └─ QUERY: Lattice data retrieval                │
│                                                    │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                    │
│  Core Engine                                      │
│  ├─ ProvenanceTracker: Hooks into forward pass   │
│  ├─ ProvenanceChain: Stores iteration sequence   │
│  ├─ MerkleTree: Computes cryptographic root      │
│  └─ HoldSession: Manages decision checkpoints     │
│                                                    │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                    │
│  Lattice Network                                  │
│  ├─ Storage: JSONL + CBOR persistence            │
│  ├─ Genesis: Network bootstrap (root hash)        │
│  ├─ Identity: Model registry                      │
│  └─ IPLD/IPFS: Content-addressed distribution    │
│                                                    │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Data Flow

1. Capture Phase:

   tracker = ProvenanceTracker(model, model_id="gpt2")
   tracker.start_session(input_text)
   output = model(**inputs)  # Hooks fire on each layer
   chain = tracker.finalize_session()
   

2. Hash Computation (per layer):

   # Sample tensor for efficiency
   state_hash = SHA256(tensor[:1000].tobytes())
   
   # Link to parent
   record = ProvenanceRecord(
       state_hash=state_hash,
       parent_hashes=[previous_hash]
   )
   

3. Merkle Tree Construction:

   def compute_merkle_root(hashes):
       if len(hashes) == 1:
           return hashes[0]
       
       # Pairwise hashing
       next_level = [
           SHA256(h1 + h2)
           for h1, h2 in zip(hashes[::2], hashes[1::2])
       ]
       
       return compute_merkle_root(next_level)
   

4. Lattice Integration:

   # Link to external systems
   chain.link_external(other_system.merkle_root)
   
   # Recompute root (includes external dependencies)
   chain.finalize()
   

Key Algorithms

Algorithm: Forward Pass Provenance Tracking

INPUT: Neural network N, input x
OUTPUT: Provenance chain C with Merkle root M

1. Initialize chain C with input_hash = H(x)
2. Set last_hash ← input_hash
3. For each layer fᵢ in N:
     a. Compute activation: aᵢ ← fᵢ(aᵢ₋₁)
     b. Hash activation: hᵢ ← H(aᵢ)
     c. Create record: rᵢ ← (layer=i, hash=hᵢ, parent=last_hash)
     d. Add to chain: C.add(rᵢ)
     e. Update: last_hash ← hᵢ
4. Compute Merkle root: M ← MerkleRoot([h₁, h₂, ..., hₙ])
5. Finalize: C.merkle_root ← M
6. Return C

Complexity: O(n) for n layers

Algorithm: Lattice Convergence

INPUT: Set of agents A = {a₁, a₂, ..., aₙ}
OUTPUT: Global fixed point (no new merkle roots)

1. For each agent aᵢ: initialize chain Cᵢ
2. Repeat until convergence:
     a. For each agent aᵢ:
          i. Get neighbor chains: N = {Cⱼ | j ∈ neighbors(i)}
          ii. Extract roots: R = {C.merkle_root | C ∈ N}
          iii. Link external: Cᵢ.external_roots.extend(R)
          iv. Recompute: Cᵢ.finalize()
     b. Check: if no new roots added, break
3. Return lattice state L = {C₁, C₂, ..., Cₙ}

Complexity: O(n²) worst case (full graph)

---

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Medical AI Oversight

Scenario: AI diagnoses medical images

Everyone version:

1. Doctor uploads X-ray
2. AI analyzes → "90% sure it's pneumonia"
3. HOLD pauses: shows doctor the AI's reasoning
4. Doctor reviews: "Actually, I think it's normal"
5. Doctor overrides → "No pneumonia"
6. Both choices are recorded with proof

Data scientist version:

# AI processes medical image
image_tensor = preprocess(xray_image)
diagnosis_probs = medical_ai(image_tensor)

# Provenance captures internal reasoning
chain = tracker.finalize_session()
print(f"Diagnosis chain: {chain.merkle_root}")

# HOLD for doctor review
resolution = hold.yield_point(
    action_probs=diagnosis_probs,
    observation={"image_id": xray_id},
    action_labels=["Normal", "Pneumonia", "Other"],
    # Pass AI's "reasoning"
    attention=model.attention_weights[-1].tolist(),
    features={"lung_opacity": 0.8, "consolidation": 0.6}
)

# Doctor overrides
final_diagnosis = resolution.action  # May differ from AI

# Both paths recorded
assert chain.records["final_layer"].state_hash in chain.merkle_root

Example 2: Autonomous Drone Fleet

Everyone version:

1. Drone A explores area, finds obstacle
2. Records: "obstacle at (100, 200)"
3. Drone B needs to navigate same area
4. Queries lattice: "Any obstacles near (100, 200)?"
5. Gets Drone A's discovery
6. Avoids obstacle without re-exploring

Data scientist version:

# Drone A observes
obstacle_detection = drone_a.camera.detect_obstacles()
observe("drone_a", {
    "position": (100, 200),
    "obstacles": obstacle_detection,
    "timestamp": time.time()
})

# Provenance chain created
chain_a = get_latest_chain("drone_a")
print(f"Drone A chain: {chain_a.merkle_root}")

# Drone B queries
past_observations = query("drone_a", filters={
    "position": nearby((100, 200), radius=50)
})

# Drone B integrates knowledge
for obs in past_observations:
    drone_b.add_to_map(obs.data["obstacles"])

# Link chains (creates lattice)
chain_b = drone_b.current_chain
chain_b.link_external(chain_a.merkle_root)

# Now chain_b provably depends on chain_a's data
chain_b.finalize()

Example 3: Financial Trading Algorithm

Everyone version:

1. Trading AI: "Buy 1000 shares (85% confidence)"
2. Compliance officer sees HOLD notification
3. Reviews: AI reasoning + market context
4. Decision: "No, market too volatile today"
5. Override: Block the trade
6. Audit trail: Both AI suggestion and human override recorded

Data scientist version:

# Trading model predicts
market_state = get_market_snapshot()
action_probs = trading_model.predict(market_state)
# [0.05, 0.85, 0.10] → BUY has 85%

# Capture provenance
tracker = ProvenanceTracker(trading_model, model_id="quant_v2.3")
tracker.start_session(market_state)
chain = tracker.finalize_session()

# HOLD for compliance
resolution = hold.yield_point(
    action_probs=action_probs,
    value=expected_profit,
    observation=market_state,
    action_labels=["SELL", "BUY", "HOLD"],
    # Rich context for human
    features={
        "volatility": market_state.volatility,
        "liquidity": market_state.liquidity,
        "risk_score": 0.7
    },
    reasoning=[
        "Strong momentum signal",
        "Historical pattern match",
        "But: elevated VIX"
    ]
)

# Compliance overrides
final_action = resolution.action  # May be HOLD instead of BUY

# Regulatory export
export_chain_for_audit(chain, f"trade_{timestamp}.json")

# Regulator can verify:
valid, error = verify_chain(chain)
assert valid, "Provenance integrity violated!"

---

Why Kleene Fixed Points Matter

For Everyone

The Problem: How do you know an AI is telling the truth about what it did?

The Solution: Math guarantees.

When you compute 2 + 2, the answer is always 4. It's not a matter of opinion—it's mathematically guaranteed.

CASCADE-LATTICE uses the same kind of mathematical guarantee (called a "fixed point") for AI computations. The AI's decision process must converge to a stable, reproducible result, and that result is cryptographically fingerprinted.

Translation: You can verify an AI's work the way you'd verify a math proof.

For Data Scientists

The Deep Connection:

Kleene's fixed-point theorem from 1952 states:

For continuous f: D → D over CPO D with bottom ⊥:
fix(f) = ⊔ᵢ₌₀^∞ fⁱ(⊥)

Neural networks implement this:

# Bottom element: zero initialization
x₀ = zeros(input_shape)

# Kleene iteration: apply layers
x₁ = layer_1(x₀)
x₂ = layer_2(x₁)
...
xₙ = layer_n(xₙ₋₁)

# Fixed point: final output
output = xₙ = fix(compose(layer_n, ..., layer_1))

Why This Is Profound:

1. Provenance = Iteration Trace: Each provenance record is one step in the Kleene chain
2. Merkle Root = Fixed Point Hash: The final hash uniquely identifies fix(f)
3. Convergence Guaranteed: Monotonic layers → guaranteed convergence (no infinite loops)

Practical Benefit:

# Two runs with same input
chain_1 = track_provenance(model, input_data)
chain_2 = track_provenance(model, input_data)

# Must produce same Merkle root
assert chain_1.merkle_root == chain_2.merkle_root

# This is NOT just reproducibility—it's mathematical necessity
# Different root → Different computation (provably)

Lattice Network = Distributed Fixed Point:

Each agent computes local fixed point, then exchanges Merkle roots. The lattice itself converges to a global fixed point:

Global_State(t+1) = Merge(Global_State(t), New_Observations)

This is Kleene iteration on the space of knowledge graphs.

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Installation & Quick Start

Everyone Version

1. Install:

   pip install cascade-lattice
   

2. Try the demo:

   cascade-demo
   

   Fly a lunar lander! Press H to pause the AI and take control.

3. Use in your code:

   import cascade
   cascade.init()
   
   # Now all AI calls are automatically tracked
   

Data Scientist Version

1. Install:

   pip install cascade-lattice
   
   # With optional dependencies
   pip install cascade-lattice[all]  # Includes IPFS, demos
   

2. Manual Provenance Tracking:

   from cascade.core.provenance import ProvenanceTracker
   import torch
   
   model = YourPyTorchModel()
   tracker = ProvenanceTracker(model, model_id="my_model")
   
   # Start session
   session_id = tracker.start_session(input_data)
   
   # Run inference (hooks capture everything)
   output = model(input_data)
   
   # Finalize and get chain
   chain = tracker.finalize_session(output)
   
   print(f"Merkle Root: {chain.merkle_root}")
   print(f"Records: {len(chain.records)}")
   print(f"Verified: {chain.verify()[0]}")
   

3. HOLD Integration:

   from cascade.hold import Hold
   import numpy as np
   
   hold = Hold.get()
   
   # In your RL loop
   for episode in range(1000):
       state = env.reset()
       done = False
       
       while not done:
           # Get action probabilities
           action_probs = agent.predict(state)
           
           # Yield to HOLD
           resolution = hold.yield_point(
               action_probs=action_probs,
               value=agent.value_estimate(state),
               observation={"state": state.tolist()},
               brain_id="rl_agent",
               action_labels=env.action_names
           )
           
           # Execute (AI or human choice)
           state, reward, done, info = env.step(resolution.action)
   

4. Query Lattice:

   from cascade.store import observe, query
   
   # Write observations
   observe("my_agent", {
       "state": [1, 2, 3],
       "action": 0,
       "reward": 1.5
   })
   
   # Query later
   history = query("my_agent", limit=100)
   for receipt in history:
       print(f"CID: {receipt.cid}")
       print(f"Data: {receipt.data}")
       print(f"Merkle: {receipt.merkle_root}")
   

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Performance Considerations

Everyone Version

Q: Does CASCADE slow down my AI?

A: Slightly (5-10% overhead), like how a dashcam uses a tiny bit of your car's power.

Q: How much storage does it use?

A: Depends on how much your AI runs. Each decision is a few kilobytes.

Data Scientist Version

Overhead Analysis:

Operation	Complexity	Typical Latency
Hash tensor	O(k)	~0.1-1ms (k=1000)
Merkle tree	O(n log n)	~1-5ms (n=50 layers)
HOLD pause	O(1)	User-dependent (1-30s)
Lattice merge	O(N)	~10-100ms (N=neighbors)

Total Inference Overhead: ~5-10% latency increase

Optimization Strategies:

1. Tensor Sampling:

   # Don't hash entire tensor
   hash_tensor(tensor, sample_size=1000)  # First 1000 elements
   

2. Async Merkle Computation:

   # Finalize chain in background thread
   chain.finalize_async()
   

3. Batch Observations:

   # Group writes to lattice
   with observation_batch():
       for step in episode:
           observe("agent", step)
   

4. Sparse HOLD:

   # Only pause on uncertainty
   if max(action_probs) < confidence_threshold:
       resolution = hold.yield_point(...)
   

Storage Scaling:

# Per-record size
record_size = (
    32 bytes (hash) +
    8 bytes (timestamp) +
    N bytes (metadata)
) ≈ 100-500 bytes

# For 1M inference steps
total_storage = 1M * 500 bytes ≈ 500 MB

Pruning Strategy:

# Archive old chains
if chain.created_at < (now - 30_days):
    archive_to_ipfs(chain)
    remove_from_local_lattice(chain)

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FAQ

Everyone

Q: Can CASCADE work with any AI?
A: Yes! It works with ChatGPT, autonomous robots, game AIs, anything.

Q: Is my data private?
A: Yes. Everything stays on your computer unless you explicitly choose to share it.

Q: What happens if I override the AI?
A: Both choices (AI's and yours) are recorded. You can later see why you disagreed.

Data Scientists

Q: Does CASCADE require modifying model code?
A: No. It uses PyTorch hooks / framework interceptors. Zero code changes required.

Q: What about non-PyTorch frameworks?
A: Supported:

• PyTorch: ✅ (native hooks)
• TensorFlow: ✅ (via tf.Module hooks)
• JAX: ✅ (via jax.jit wrapping)
• HuggingFace: ✅ (transformers integration)
• OpenAI/Anthropic: ✅ (API wrappers)

Q: How does HOLD integrate with existing RL frameworks?
A: Drop-in replacement for action sampling:

# Before
action = np.argmax(action_probs)

# After
resolution = hold.yield_point(action_probs=action_probs, ...)
action = resolution.action

Q: Can I use CASCADE with distributed training?
A: Yes. Each rank tracks its own provenance:

tracker = ProvenanceTracker(
    model,
    model_id=f"ddp_rank_{dist.get_rank()}"
)

Q: What about privacy in the lattice?
A: Three modes:

1. Local: Lattice stays on disk (default)
2. Private Network: Share only with trusted nodes
3. Public: Publish to IPFS (opt-in)

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The Big Picture

Everyone

CASCADE-LATTICE makes AI systems:

• Transparent: See what AI sees
• Controllable: Override AI decisions
• Collaborative: AIs share knowledge
• Trustworthy: Cryptographic proof of actions

The Vision: AI systems that humans can audit, control, and trust.

Data Scientists

CASCADE-LATTICE provides:

• Formal Semantics: Kleene fixed points give rigorous meaning to "AI computation"
• Cryptographic Proofs: Merkle roots create tamper-evident audit trails
• Human Agency: HOLD protocol enables intervention without breaking provenance
• Collective Intelligence: Lattice network creates decentralized AI knowledge base

The Vision: A future where:

1. Every AI decision is mathematically verifiable
2. Humans can intervene at any decision boundary
3. AI systems form a global knowledge lattice (the "neural internetwork")
4. Governance emerges from cryptographic consensus, not centralized control

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Next Steps

Everyone

1. Try the demo: cascade-demo
2. Read the README: cascade-lattice/README.md
3. Join the community: GitHub Issues

Data Scientists

1. Read the research paper: docs/RESEARCH_PAPER.md
2. Explore the codebase:
   • cascade/core/provenance.py — Kleene iteration engine
   • cascade/hold/session.py — Intervention protocol
   • cascade/store.py — Lattice storage
3. Integrate with your models:

   from cascade import init
   init()  # That's it!
   

4. Contribute:
   • Optimize Merkle tree construction
   • Add new framework integrations
   • Build visualization tools
   • Extend HOLD protocol

---

Conclusion

Whether you're a concerned citizen wondering about AI transparency, or a researcher building the next generation of AI systems, CASCADE-LATTICE offers a path forward:

From Kleene's fixed points in 1952...
To cryptographic AI provenance in 2026...
To a future where AI and humanity converge on shared truth.

"The fixed point is not just computation—it is consensus."

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Guide Version: 1.0
Date: 2026-01-12
For: CASCADE-LATTICE System