Advanced · Systems

Agent Passport System (APS)

Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.

TL;DR. A scheme that issues verifiable, portable identity documents to AI agents so other systems can recognise and trust them across domains.

Technical Definition

A scheme that issues verifiable, portable identity documents to AI agents so other systems can recognise and trust them across domains.

How it works

An Agent Passport System issues each agent a signed, portable credential describing who it is, who operates it, which model or build it runs, what capabilities it claims, and when the credential expires. Like a passport, it is presented at a boundary and verified against an issuing authority rather than trusted on assertion. APS designs typically build on verifiable credentials and public-key cryptography, support revocation lists, and separate identity (who the agent is) from authorization (what it may do today) so a compromised agent can be blocked without reissuing every permission.

Related Concepts

• Agent Identity Protocol (AIP) — A protocol for establishing and proving an AI agent's identity to other agents, services, and users.
• Agent Identity — The verifiable answer to 'which agent is this?' — a stable, attestable identifier distinct from the human or service behind it.
• Agent Credential Exchange — The handshake in which agents present, verify, and accept each other's credentials before doing business.
• Agent Revocation — Withdrawing an agent's identity, credentials, or capabilities so it can no longer act — immediately and verifiably.