Digital I Specification: A Formal Admissibility Framework for PACE-Conformant Systems

Abstract This document presents the Digital I Specification, a normative admissibility framework for the classification and admissibility determination of artificial, digital, or hybrid systems based on their structural and dynamical conformance with the PACE (Farran Law of Partial Ambiguity) framework. It defines formal criteria for admissibility, classification levels (DI-0 through DI-4), and associated governance, versioning, and licensing constraints. Digital I is defined as a formally admissible extension of the PACE framework and serves as the authoritative normative reference for future framework-aligned implementations, admissibility evaluations, and compliance claims relating to PACE-conformant systems. Normative Status and Scope This document is a normative, authoritative technical specification. It is not a research article and is not subject to peer review. It does not propose hypotheses, empirical findings, or experimental claims. Instead, it defines a formal governance and admissibility framework derived from the PACE framework. This document does not evaluate, test, certify, assess, or endorse any specific system. It does not assert, imply, or guarantee the presence of consciousness, awareness, sentience, selfhood, or any consciousness-related property. Digital I is defined exclusively as a normative admissibility classification framework. Any interpretation of this document as an empirical study, philosophical position, ethical claim, or determination of consciousness constitutes a category error outside the scope of this specification.