Yama Constraints: Ethical Boundaries for AI Outputs

The yamas are Patanjali's ethical restraints: ahimsa (non-harm), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-theft), brahmacharya (chastity/appropriate use), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness). These aren't abstract ideals but practical safeguards that prevent knowledge systems from causing harm. Ahimsa restrains AI from generating outputs that injure individuals or groups; satya demands factual accuracy over engagement metrics; asteya prevents plagiarism and intellectual theft; brahmacharya suggests appropriate, measured use of AI power rather than excessive generation; aparigraha means releasing attachment to controlling knowledge or hoarding data. Knowledge platforms designed with yama-constraints actively restrict certain outputs—not through censorship, but through principled boundaries. An AI system following yama would refuse to generate disinformation even if profitable; would acknowledge sources rather than extracting value; would respect human autonomy rather than manipulating behavior; would generate responsibly rather than indiscriminately. This transforms AI governance from reactive moderation to proactive restraint. Rather than apologizing for harms after the fact, yama-informed systems build ethical boundaries into their architecture, recognizing that true knowledge serves the collective good rather than narrow interests.