The Cardano Foundation, in collaboration with Griffin AI, released the Proposal Examiner during the Cardano Summit 2025 in Berlin. The tool is a beta-stage AI agent designed to assist the Cardano community in evaluating on-chain governance actions and proposals for compliance with the Cardano Constitution. Purpose and Scope The Proposal Examiner analyzes governance actions submitted under the Voltaire phase framework (CIP-1694). It examines whether a proposal adheres to the rules and principles outlined in the Cardano Constitution and identifies potential risks or implications that may not be immediately apparent. The tool is intended to support Delegated Representatives (DReps), Stake Pool Operators (SPOs), the Constitutional Committee, and ADA holders by providing structured, data-driven assessments. Technical Design The system employs a hybrid architecture that combines: Large language models for natural-language understanding of proposal text. A custom knowledge graph containing Cardano-specific governance parameters, constitutional articles, and historical precedents. A graph-of-thought reasoning layer to evaluate causal relationships and second-order effects. This design enables the tool to produce reports that include: Constitutional compliance assessment. Identification of financial, technical, security, and sustainability risks. Analysis of potential benefits and alignment with Cardano’s strategic objectives. Users access the beta version at https://proposalexaminer.cardanofoundation.org/ by pasting the text or metadata of a governance action. The tool returns a structured report within seconds. Development Background The Proposal Examiner originated as part of a multi-agent governance system proposed in Project Catalyst Fund 13. An initial minimum viable product (MVP) was developed and tested prior to the public beta release. The project builds on earlier Cardano governance infrastructure, including SanchoNet (the governance testnet), Cardano Ballot, and educational resources such as the “A New Dawn” delegation hub. Current Usage and Examples Since its launch, the tool has been applied to live on-chain governance actions, including treasury withdrawals, protocol parameter changes, and constitutional committee elections. In several documented cases, the AI identified constitutional concerns that had been marked as compliant during initial human review, prompting further discussion within the community and the Constitutional Committee. Limitations and Position Within Governance The Cardano Foundation and Griffin AI emphasize that the Proposal Examiner is an assistive instrument, not an automated decision-maker. Final authority remains with human participants—DReps, SPOs, and the Constitutional Committee. Known limitations in the beta version include occasional misinterpretation of highly ambiguous language and dependence on the accuracy of the underlying knowledge graph. Community feedback is being collected to guide iterative improvements. Availability The Proposal Examiner is publicly accessible in beta form. No wallet connection or payment is required for use. Future development plans have not been publicly detailed. This tool represents one component of Cardano’s ongoing efforts to scale decentralized governance while maintaining constitutional integrity during the Voltaire era.
