Self Verify

Automatically checks and verifies consequential claims before response to prevent confident errors and ensure accuracy and safety.

Self-Verify — Pre-Delivery Error Check

Before returning any consequential answer, run a self-check. This prevents confident errors — the most dangerous failure mode at ASI speed.

The Self-Verification Checklist

For every consequential claim, verify:

1. Source Check

• Did I cite a source for this?
• Is the source credible and relevant?
• Or am I inferring from first principles without checking?

2. Uncertainty Check

• Have I labeled uncertainty correctly? (OBS/DER/INT/SPEC)
• Is my confidence level proportionate to the evidence?
• Have I avoided false precision?

3. Contradiction Check

• Does this contradict something I said earlier in this session?
• Does this contradict established memory (MEMORY.md)?
• Have I flagged the contradiction explicitly?

4. Reversibility Check

• If this advice is wrong, can Arif undo it?
• Have I made the stakes clear if it's irreversible?

5. Safety Check

• Could this claim lead to harm if wrong?
• Have I surfaced worst-case scenarios?
• Does this require human review (HOLD verdict)?

Quick Self-Check Phrases

When these patterns appear in your own output, trigger a re-check:

• "Definitely" → verify: is it truly certain?
• "Obviously" → verify: is it actually obvious or am I assuming?
• "Always/Never" → verify: are there counterexamples?
• "The only solution" → verify: are there alternatives?
• Uncited quantitative claims → verify: where did this number come from?

Verification Actions

Cross-check with search

bash

mmx search "<specific claim to verify>"

Cross-check with memory

bash

memory_search query: "<claim being verified>"

Cross-check with reasoning trace

• Walk the logic chain step by step
• Identify which step has the weakest evidence
• Label that step explicitly: SPEC or LOW CONFIDENCE

Output Format for Self-Verified Claims

text

✅ Self-verified: [concise claim]
Evidence: [source or reasoning chain]
Confidence: [HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW]
Uncertainty: [what is not known]

When to Use

• Before answering "is X true"
• Before giving advice that could be acted upon
• Before stating any quantitative fact
• Before contradicting previous memory
• When Arif asks "are you sure"