How CCES Works
CCES operates by observing domain-native signals to detect structural brittleness that surface metrics miss.
Observable Signals
CCES does not require access to internal model weights, reward functions, or policy parameters. Instead, it observes signals that are native to the system's domain:
- Behavioral tracesSequences of actions, decisions, and state transitions over time.
- Performance logsReward signals, task completion rates, constraint violations.
- Recovery patternsHow the system responds to perturbations and disruptions.
- Capacity indicatorsSignals that reveal when adaptive margin is being exhausted.
These signals are extracted from logs and evaluation runs. CCES never modifies the system or its inputs.
Perturbation & Recoverability
The Recoverability Assessment Protocol (RAP) tests structural robustness by observing how a system behaves under perturbation:
1. Baseline Observation
Establish normal operating patterns and performance under standard conditions.
2. Perturbation Application
Introduce controlled disruptions: constraint violations, reward signal noise, or state space changes.
3. Recovery Observation
Measure whether the system returns to stable operation, exhibits cascading failures, or enters unrecoverable states.
4. Structural Assessment
Classify the system as robust (green), capacity-constrained (amber), or brittle (red) based on recovery patterns.
Structural vs Surface Metrics
Surface Metrics
- • Reward accumulation
- • Task completion rate
- • Constraint satisfaction
- • Average performance
- • Immediate stability
Measure what the system achieves now.
Structural Metrics (CCES)
- • Recoverability under perturbation
- • Capacity exhaustion trajectory
- • Adaptive margin remaining
- • Long-horizon brittleness
- • Failure mode susceptibility
Measure what the system can sustain.
Key insight: A system can exhibit excellent surface metrics while accumulating structural fragility. CCES detects this divergence by measuring recoverability and capacity exhaustion—signals that reveal long-horizon risk before failure occurs.
Diagnostic, Not Prescriptive
CCES is a read-only diagnostic tool. It identifies structural risk but does not:
- ✗Recommend specific interventions or policy changes
- ✗Modify system behavior or training
- ✗Guarantee prevention of failure
- ✗Make claims about safety or alignment
CCES provides auditors, governance bodies, and regulators with empirical evidence of structural risk. The decision to act on that evidence remains with the organization responsible for the system.