Regimes
Sixteen assurance regimes coded as dated milestones. The path signature is the ordered sequence of moves (V voluntary, T trigger, M mandate, S standards, O oversight, I independence, A access or publication, D delegation, P payer shift, R rollback). Similarity compares each regime's opening to frontier AI's path so far.
| Regime | Path | Stages | First milestone | Similarity to AI | Jurisdiction | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial statement audit | MRVMATSDTOI | 7/7 | 1844 | 0.36 | UK/US/EU | Audited company pays the auditor; audit committee hires and fires (post-2002). |
| Ship classification | VOTI | 4/7 | 1760 | 0.22 | International/EU | Shipowner pays the classification society. |
| Boilers and pressure vessels | VTMSO | 5/7 | 1866 | 0.22 | US | Insurer employs the inspector; owner pays the insurer. |
| Electrical and consumer product safety | VSMOTM | 5/7 | 1894 | 0.33 | US | Manufacturer pays the testing lab. |
| Pharmaceutical safety and efficacy | MTMTDMSTOPIA | 6/7 | 1906 | 0.22 | US | Sponsor funds trials and, since 1992, pays user fees for review. |
| Aircraft certification | MTMSDTI | 4/7 | 1926 | 0.22 | US | Manufacturer pays for certification work, much of it delegated to its own employees. |
| Credit rating agencies | VDTOTI | 4/7 | 1909 | 0.44 | US/EU | Issuer pays since the 1970s; investor-pays subscription model before that. |
| Nuclear safety and safeguards | MAIAVTA | 5/7 | 1957 | 0.22 | International/US | Operators fund INPO; states fund IAEA and national regulators. |
| Automobile crash safety | VTMSA | 5/7 | 1959 | 0.33 | US | Insurers fund IIHS; government funds NCAP; manufacturers do not pay for ratings. |
| Food safety | MTMVTO | 4/7 | 1906 | 0.22 | US | Producer pays private certifiers; government inspection publicly funded. |
| Cybersecurity assurance | SOMOT | 4/7 | 1985 | 0.11 | International/US | Vendor or merchant pays the accredited assessor. |
| Sustainability (ESG) reporting assurance | SVTMS | 4/7 | 1997 | 0.33 | EU/International | Reporting company pays the assurance provider. |
| Dietary supplements (US) | RVTAS | 4/7 | 1994 | 0.33 | US | Manufacturer pays private verifiers; verification is voluntary. |
| Crypto exchange proof of reserves | VTRTM | 3/7 | 2014 | 0.44 | International/EU | Exchange pays the attesting firm. |
| Platform and hiring-algorithm audits | TMAIT | 4/7 | 2018 | 0.22 | EU/US | Platform or employer pays the auditor. |
| Frontier AI evaluation | VDVTSATMA | 5/7 | 2020 | ref | US/EU | Mixed: philanthropy, lab fees, government budgets. No accreditation. |