"Judgment as a Service" Introduced as Key to Ethical Oversight of Autonomous & Agentic AI Agents

BURLINGTON, Ontario - May 24, 2025 - PRLog -- As the rise of autonomous AI agents accelerates, one Canadian technologist and author is calling attention to a growing gap in oversight. In his latest article, "Judgment as a Service: Why AI Agents Need a Moral OS," James Burchill explores how artificial intelligence systems lack the ability to evaluate right from wrong—unless they are explicitly programmed to do so.

Burchill argues that the next evolution in safe, effective AI is Judgment as a Service (JaaS): a middleware-style system that sits between autonomous agents and the actions they take, applying a set of values, rules, or ethical considerations before allowing those actions to proceed.

"We don't let people act with total freedom in society—we have norms, rules, and consequences. Why would we allow AI agents to operate without the same checks?" says Burchill.

The article outlines how AI judgment can be modularized and offered via APIs that vet or veto agent decisions in real time, enabling developers to offload ethical logic to a shared, auditable layer. While in the early stages, the idea is already being explored through Burchill's new project, VetoGuard.com.

With governments globally debating the risks of unregulated AI and major tech firms racing to build ever-smarter agents, Burchill's proposal offers a practical and scalable path to restoring human oversight, without killing innovation.

About James Burchill

James Burchill is a Canadian author, technologist, and CXO. He has built award-winning software systems, written multiple bestsellers, and helps businesses leverage AI to work smarter, not harder. His newsletter Tech with a Twist and publication The Vault reach a fast-growing audience of tech-savvy professionals and entrepreneurs.

You can read Burchill's 'Judgement as a Service' article here: https://jamesburchill.com/vault/tech-with-a-twist/judgmen...