Human Reimagined Institute

Minimum
Viable Soul®

A proposed certification for technologies that keep humans meaningfully present.

As artificial intelligence enters education, work, public services, creativity, and decision-making, the question is no longer only whether machines can become more intelligent. The question is whether humans can become more deliberate, dignified, creative, and wise.

Vote on the StandardNon-binding signal on the draft principles — about 60 seconds.
Read the Manifesto
Joined by
Researchers·Ethicists·Designers·Educators·Clinicians·Founders
Vol. 01 — Founding Consultation
Est. 2026
§ The Question

The defining challenge of the twenty-first century is not building smarter machines. It is becoming wiser humans.

Artificial intelligence is making intelligence abundant. But abundance of intelligence does not guarantee dignity, agency, meaning, or wisdom. The Human Reimagined Institute exists to ask what must remain irreducibly human in a technological civilisation.

01

What should never be fully delegated to machines?

02

What human capacities must technology strengthen rather than replace?

03

What would make an AI system worthy of trust?

§ Definition

What is the
Minimum Viable Soul?

Minimum Viable Soul is the Human Reimagined Institute's term for the minimum set of human qualities that must be preserved, protected, and strengthened as machines become more capable.

It asks whether a system preserves enough human agency, dignity, judgment, creativity, responsibility, and meaning for the human being not to disappear inside the machine.

Minimum Viable Soul is not a metaphor. It is a proposed standard for keeping humanity meaningfully present in technological systems.

§ The Pillars

The Proposed
Certification Pillars

Six dimensions of human presence that any system entering daily life with people must answer for.

I

Human Agency

Does the person remain able to choose, refuse, understand, and override?

II

Human Dignity

Does the system treat people as persons rather than data points, users, cases, or behavioural targets?

III

Human Judgment

Are consequential decisions still subject to accountable human reasoning?

IV

Human Creativity

Does the technology extend imagination rather than flatten or replace expression?

V

Human Responsibility

Is there a clear human or institutional owner for consequences?

VI

Human Meaning

Does the system support purposeful human activity rather than pure efficiency?

These pillars are provisional. The founding standard will be shaped through public voting, expert review, and transparent assessment design.

§ Public Consultation

Vote on What the
Standard Must Protect

The Minimum Viable Soul Certification should be shaped by the humans it is designed to protect. Cast your vote on the principles that should define human-centred AI. Results shown are from a prototype consultation.

Which human qualities should be non-negotiable in AI systems?

Select up to 5

0 votes counted in the prototype consultation.

0 of 5 selected

What sector most urgently needs Minimum Viable Soul Certification?

0 votes in the prototype consultation.

§ Methodology

How Certification
Could Work

01

Public Principles

The standard begins with public input on what human-centred AI must protect.

02

Independent Assessment

Products, systems, and organisations are assessed against transparent criteria for agency, dignity, judgment, responsibility, and meaning.

03

Certification and Review

Qualifying systems may receive Minimum Viable Soul certification, subject to periodic reassessment and public reporting.

Possible Certification Levels
MVS AwareProvisional

Recognises and documents human agency risks.

MVS AssuredProvisional

Meets core safeguards for human-centred deployment.

MVS ExemplaryProvisional

Demonstrably strengthens human flourishing.

§ Nomination

Nominate a Technology
for Review

Suggest a product, system, or organisation that should be considered under the Minimum Viable Soul standard. Nominations inform the prototype consultation and pilot assessments.

§ Manifesto

The Human Reimagined
Manifesto

The defining challenge of the twenty-first century is not building smarter machines. It is becoming wiser humans.

Artificial intelligence will transform how we work, learn, create, govern, and relate to one another. Yet the central question remains unresolved: what aspects of humanity must we preserve, strengthen, and reimagine so that technological progress expands human flourishing rather than diminishes it?

The Human Reimagined Institute exists to answer that question.

We believe

Technology should extend human agency, not quietly dissolve it.

We believe

Intelligence without wisdom is insufficient.

We believe

Progress must be measured not only by efficiency, but by dignity, meaning, responsibility, and human flourishing.

We believe

The future needs humans.

§ Founding Circle

Join the
Founding Circle

Help shape the Minimum Viable Soul standard for human-centred AI.