DAO

1. Background In traditional OEM and ODM supply chains, delivery is accompanied by a manifest. This manifest specifies what has been delivered, under what conditions, and according to which contractual expectations. The manifest establishes three boundaries: Acceptance criteria Dispute evidence Responsibility attribution In contemporary AI delivery, these boundaries are blurred. What is delivered is often described as “an AI model,” but operationally this description is incomplete. 2. Clarifying the Object of Delivery AI is not a model. ...

Observation In traditional OEM and ODM processes, suppliers provide a manifest alongside delivered hardware or software. This document functions as evidence that contractual deliverables have been met and is later referenced in acceptance tests or disputes. In AI model delivery, this role is weak or absent. Models are often delivered as opaque binaries, leaving the purchaser unable to verify provenance, training conditions, or behavioral claims. This creates a structural asymmetry: the supplier knows what the model is, while the purchaser bears the operational and legal risk. ...