Ongoing ethics advisory

A trusted ethics partner while the system keeps moving.

By Axiom Ethics5 min read

An advisory retainer is a standing relationship for an in-flight AI program — not a one-off launch checkpoint. Axiom stays close enough to review the decisions as they happen, with a monthly working rhythm and a quarterly moment to step back and assess what has changed.

It is a fit for teams already shipping AI-augmented features who want a trusted ethics partner in the room: someone who can hold the wider normative frame while still speaking plainly about the next product, governance, or policy decision.

What to expect

A cadence built for real decisions, not a shelf of unused advice.

The engagement keeps scope explicit while giving the team somewhere to bring the questions that do not wait for a quarterly planning cycle.

01 · The shape

Monthly retainer, quarterly perspective

The monthly retainer is sized to the team's cadence. Each month combines dedicated advisory hours — asynchronous review and a 60-minute working session — with a clear route for questions between meetings. Every quarter, that working knowledge becomes a written review of new features, incidents, and policy changes.

Best for

An AI team that needs continuity and judgment alongside shipping velocity — not only a report at the end of a project.

02 · The process

From confidential discovery to escalation
  1. 1Discovery and onboarding. We align on the retainer scope, stakeholders, decision context, and working norms. A mutual NDA is signed before evaluation data crosses the wire.
  2. 2Recurring work. Monthly sessions have an agenda shared in advance, with asynchronous review between sessions as the program changes.
  3. 3Review and escalation. Quarterly synthesis, an on-demand memo, or a direct escalation path gives the right question the right level of attention.

03 · Deliverables

Concrete outputs for the work in front of you
  • Dedicated monthly advisory hours for asynchronous review plus a 60-minute working session.
  • A quarterly written review covering new features, incidents, and policy changes.
  • A lightweight memo on demand for board- or regulator-facing questions.
  • Preferred-client response within one business day.
  • An annual scope refresh and retainer-level governance retrospective.

04 · Client experience

Rigorous, confidential, and useful in the room

Founder-led rigor

David runs every engagement, bringing normative-ethics reasoning into the actual decisions your team has to make.

Clear scope and trust

The engagement letter keeps the work legible. Confidentiality is standard; Axiom does not publish findings without the client's written consent.

Actionable communication

Advice is written and spoken in language a product, safety, or governance team can use — without implying legal advice or attorney-client privilege.

Ready to ground your AI in something deeper?

Whether you are designing your first autonomous system or facing a specific alignment dilemma, we bring the rigor your work demands.

Engagements begin with a confidential conversation. We ask the right questions before proposing any scope of work.

Request a ConsultationReview Our Process

Contact

Email contactinfo@axiomethics.com

Location

Los Angeles, California
Serving clients across the Pacific Coast and remotely worldwide.

Response time

Initial inquiries are reviewed within 2 business days. Engagements are confirmed after a brief discovery call.