Business Dystopia Post Automation Utopia v0.1 draft

DOC-08 Solution Requirements Document

Solution Requirements Document

What the programme must put in place, traced to the user requirements

Programme
Post Automation Utopia programme
Document
Solution Requirements Document
Version
v0.1 draft
Date
10 November 2026
Status
Draft for review. Not yet approved.
Owner
Design Authority Lead
Approver
Programme Board

Summary

This document sets out what the programme must put in place to meet the user requirements. It holds 57 solution requirements in 10 solution components. 38 are rated Must, 16 Should, 1 Could and 2 Won't.

Every solution requirement traces to at least one ID in the User Requirements Document, and all 55 user requirements are covered by at least one solution requirement. Every Must user requirement is met by at least one Must solution requirement. The Traceability section shows the links.

At v0.1 the requirements describe the solution at the level of the draft plan. The options appraisal in Phase 0 (plan step P0-06) will choose between designs, and the requirements will be baselined afterwards.

Purpose and scope

The User Requirements Document says what users need. This document says what the solution must do to meet those needs, in terms that can be verified. It does not prescribe national policy in detail. Each adopting country designs its own delivery within these requirements.

Solution overview

The solution has ten components. Each has a lead role in the programme, and is delivered mainly by the institutions shown.

IDComponentWhat it isLead roleMain delivery institutions
SC-01Income floorAn unconditional cash income paid to every individual: a universal basic income, alone or combined with services.Economic Security LeadNational governments; Central banks
SC-02Automation dividend and public wealth fundsThe means of capturing a share of the returns from automated capital and paying it out.Economic Security LeadNational governments; Central banks; Industry
SC-03Universal basic servicesHealth, food, water, energy, transport and digital access, free or near-free at the point of use.Basic Services LeadNational governments; Regional and local governments
SC-04Homes for everyoneAn adequate, secure home for every person.Basic Services LeadRegional and local governments; National governments; Industry
SC-05Automation and AI governanceMeasurement, safety standards, accountability and redress for automated systems.Automation and AI Governance LeadUN bodies; National governments; Industry
SC-06Purpose, learning and participationLifelong learning, support for displaced workers, recognised contribution and democratic voice.Purpose, Learning and Participation LeadNational governments; Regional and local governments; Civil society and labour organisations
SC-07Planetary stewardshipProtection and restoration of nature, animal welfare, limits on the footprint of automation, and the proxy panels.Planetary Stewardship LeadUN bodies; National governments; Conservation science bodies; Indigenous peoples' organisations
SC-08Global equity and transition financeTransfers, finance and access to technology for lower-income countries.Economic Security LeadInternational financial institutions; UN bodies
SC-09Digital public infrastructureIdentity, payment and data systems with privacy by design.Design Authority LeadNational governments; Central banks; Industry
SC-10Rights and legitimacyLegal entitlements, consent, impact assessment and equality.Legal and Policy LeadNational governments; UN bodies; Civil society and labour organisations

Design principles

  • Entitlements are universal, unconditional and held by individuals.
  • No one is made worse off by the way the transition is sequenced.
  • People stay in charge of automated systems, and a person is accountable for every decision about rights.
  • The Must requirements of non-human users limit how every component is designed.
  • Personal data is kept to a minimum, and support is never conditional on surveillance.
  • Every component is piloted and independently evaluated before it is scaled.

Solution requirements

Requirements are grouped by component. The priority of a solution requirement follows the user requirements it traces to.

SC-01 Income floor

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-001Pay a regular, unconditional cash income to every resident as an individual, indexed to the cost of an adequate basket of goods and services.MustUR-001, UR-013, UR-033Coverage and adequacy statistics
SR-002Have an independent body set the level of the floor against a published adequacy benchmark and review it every year.MustUR-001, UR-010Published annual review
SR-003Pay supplements for additional needs, including disability, care responsibilities and older age.MustUR-020, UR-023, UR-032Evaluation of take-up and adequacy
SR-004Apply no-detriment protection when existing entitlements are migrated, so that no recipient loses net income.ShouldUR-014, UR-020Migration audit
SR-005Offer payment through several channels, including channels that need no digital access.MustUR-015, UR-022Test of channel availability

SC-02 Automation dividend and public wealth funds

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-006Capture a defined share of the returns from automated capital in public wealth funds.MustUR-001, UR-029Reports of fund inflows
SR-007Govern public wealth funds independently and in the open, with public representation and a rule that preserves their real value for future generations.MustUR-010, UR-018Governance review
SR-008Model the mix of revenue from automated production, land values and resource rents for sufficiency and stability before legislating.ShouldUR-001, UR-018Peer review of the modelling

SC-03 Universal basic services

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-009Provide healthcare free at the point of use.MustUR-003Universal health coverage index
SR-010Guarantee access to enough nutritious food, favouring high-welfare and plant-rich food systems.MustUR-004, UR-041Food security survey
SR-011Provide safely managed water and sanitation within the limits of ecological flows.MustUR-005, UR-047Sustainable Development Goal 6 indicators
SR-012Provide an entitlement to clean household energy.MustUR-006, UR-051Access and emissions reports
SR-013Provide affordable transport to defined services within defined travel times.ShouldUR-007Accessibility modelling
SR-014Provide a digital connection, a device and help with digital skills.ShouldUR-008, UR-015Connectivity survey
SR-015Include a minimum of human contact in care standards for older people and anyone else who wants it.ShouldUR-021Care quality inspection
SR-016Offer a human-delivered option for defined services such as justice and advice.CouldUR-016Review of the service catalogue

SC-04 Homes for everyone

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-017Define an adequate home using the UN-Habitat elements of adequacy, and provide one for every person.MustUR-002Housing condition survey
SR-018Supply housing through low-carbon automated construction, retrofitting the existing stock first.MustUR-002, UR-050, UR-052Delivery and embodied carbon reports
SR-019Keep new housing off protected and high-value habitat, through land-use plans approved with advice from the proxy panels.MustUR-034, UR-045, UR-049Land-use audit
SR-020Guarantee security of tenure and protection from forced eviction.MustUR-002Legal review

SC-05 Automation and AI governance

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-021Run a global automation observatory that measures automation, displacement and the distribution of gains, and publishes its data.MustUR-010, UR-024, UR-029Annual observatory report
SR-022Keep a public register of automated systems that affect the public, and assess their impact before deployment.MustUR-010, UR-011, UR-026Audit of the register
SR-023Certify automated systems for safety, with clear liability and a working route to redress.MustUR-011, UR-019Certification records and redress case data
SR-024Keep human oversight of decisions about rights and entitlements, with a right to an explanation and to appeal.MustUR-011, UR-016Audit of appeals
SR-025Apply a child safety standard to automated systems that children use or that affect them.MustUR-019Compliance audit
SR-026Apply an accessibility standard to every automated system in the programme.MustUR-022Accessibility testing
SR-027Apply a wildlife-safe design standard to autonomous vehicles, drones, farm machines and infrastructure that crosses migration routes.ShouldUR-035, UR-036, UR-038Monitoring of wildlife incidents

SC-06 Purpose, learning and participation

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-028Provide an entitlement to learning throughout life, starting with early years education.MustUR-017, UR-024Participation statistics
SR-029Recognise care, civic, creative and scientific contribution, without making any entitlement conditional on it.ShouldUR-009, UR-013, UR-032Wellbeing and participation survey
SR-030Run participatory mechanisms, including citizens' assemblies on automation and a voice for workers in sector decisions.MustUR-010, UR-026Records of assemblies
SR-031Give displaced workers notice, retraining and income protection, and give affected places a transition plan.MustUR-024, UR-025Transition support reports
SR-032Fund local institutions for community life, such as commons and cultural and care spaces.ShouldUR-009, UR-021, UR-025Survey of local provision
SR-057Out of scope: any guarantee of continued paid employment in a particular occupation.Won'tUR-055Not applicable

SC-07 Planetary stewardship

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-033Constitute standing proxy panels for wild animals, farmed animals, plants and fungi, ecosystems and the Earth system, with a published method, conflict-of-interest rules and a formal voice in governance.MustUR-034, UR-037, UR-039, UR-045, UR-049, UR-050Panel records and governance review
SR-034Support delivery of the 30 per cent protection target, with corridors that connect habitats and keep migration routes open.MustUR-034, UR-038, UR-045Protected area statistics
SR-035Run an automated and monitored programme of ecological restoration.MustUR-037, UR-046Restoration monitoring
SR-036Monitor biodiversity and extinction risk and report the results in public.MustUR-037Red List Index
SR-037Apply animal welfare standards to automated husbandry, with an accountable human role for every system.MustUR-039, UR-040Welfare audit
SR-038Set and enforce limits on light, noise, chemical, plastic and nutrient pollution, including in fresh water and the oceans.ShouldUR-036, UR-047, UR-048, UR-053Pollution monitoring
SR-039Conserve the genetic resources of plants and fungi in the wild and in collections.ShouldUR-042Coverage of collections
SR-040Apply soil health and biosecurity standards to automated agriculture, land management and logistics.ShouldUR-043, UR-044Soil and biosecurity monitoring
SR-041Set a planetary footprint budget for automation infrastructure, covering energy, water, minerals and emissions, and report against it.MustUR-050, UR-051Footprint reports
SR-042Require automation hardware that can be repaired, reused and recycled.ShouldUR-052Circularity reports
SR-043Require sustainable fishing and no damaging seabed extraction in the programme's supply chains.ShouldUR-048Supply chain audit

SC-08 Global equity and transition finance

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-044Distribute a share of the global automation dividend to low-income countries through an international mechanism.MustUR-029, UR-031Transfer reports
SR-045Support technology transfer, open standards and skills for lower-income countries.ShouldUR-030Programme reports
SR-046Provide transition finance to low-income countries mostly as grants.MustUR-031Review of finance terms

SC-09 Digital public infrastructure

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-047Provide identity and payment systems with privacy by design and no mandatory biometrics.MustUR-001, UR-012Privacy audit
SR-048Collect the minimum of personal data, and never make support conditional on surveillance.MustUR-012Independent data audit
SR-049Keep payment and essential service systems running during outages and disasters, with tested manual fallbacks.MustUR-001, UR-003, UR-005, UR-006Resilience tests
SR-050Protect programme systems and data against cyber attack and misuse, with independent security testing.MustUR-011, UR-012Independent security tests

SC-10 Rights and legitimacy

IDRequirementPriorityTraces toVerified by
SR-051Apply a free, prior and informed consent protocol to every activity that affects Indigenous peoples, and include Indigenous representatives in stewardship bodies.MustUR-027, UR-028Consent records
SR-052Assess the intergenerational impact of major decisions, overseen by an independent future generations function.MustUR-018Assessment records
SR-053Make income, housing and essential services legal entitlements that people can enforce.ShouldUR-001, UR-002, UR-013Legal review
SR-054Publish information about entitlements in every official language and in accessible formats.ShouldUR-015Content audit
SR-055Pay every entitlement to the individual, and carry out an equality impact assessment on each component.MustUR-033Equality impact assessment records
SR-056Out of scope: any mechanism that prescribes how people live or what they consume.Won'tUR-054Not applicable

Traceability

The table lists every user requirement with the solution requirements that cover it.

User requirementUser groupPriorityRequirementCovered by
UR-001All peopleMustEvery person has a secure income that is enough for an adequate standard of living, with no condition linked to employment.SR-001, SR-002, SR-006, SR-008, SR-047, SR-049, SR-053
UR-002All peopleMustEvery person has a safe, secure, affordable and adequate home.SR-017, SR-018, SR-020, SR-053
UR-003All peopleMustEvery person can get healthcare free at the point of use.SR-009, SR-049
UR-004All peopleMustEvery person has enough safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food.SR-010
UR-005All peopleMustEvery person has clean water and sanitation.SR-011, SR-049
UR-006All peopleMustEvery person has affordable, clean energy for household needs.SR-012, SR-049
UR-007All peopleShouldEvery person can travel to services, learning, community and work.SR-013
UR-008All peopleShouldEvery person has a digital connection, a device and the skills to use them.SR-014
UR-009All peopleShouldEvery person can find purpose and contribute in ways that are recognised, such as care, creative, civic and scientific work.SR-029, SR-032
UR-010All peopleMustPeople have a real say in how automation is used and how its gains are shared.SR-002, SR-007, SR-021, SR-022, SR-030
UR-011All peopleMustPeople are protected from harm by automated systems, and can get accountability and redress when harm occurs.SR-022, SR-023, SR-024, SR-050
UR-012All peopleMustPeople keep their privacy and control of their personal data. Support is never conditional on surveillance.SR-047, SR-048, SR-050
UR-013All peopleShouldPeople are free to work, learn, care, create or rest without losing access to essentials.SR-001, SR-029, SR-053
UR-014All peopleShouldNo one's living standard falls below its current level because of the way the transition is sequenced.SR-004
UR-015All peopleShouldInformation about entitlements is available in people's own languages and in accessible formats.SR-005, SR-014, SR-054
UR-016All peopleCouldPeople can choose a service delivered by a human where that matters to them, for example in justice and advice.SR-016, SR-024
UR-017Children and future generationsMustEvery child has early years education, and every person has access to learning throughout life.SR-028
UR-018Children and future generationsMustDecisions take account of future generations and do not pass debt or ecological damage on to them.SR-007, SR-008, SR-052
UR-019Children and future generationsMustChildren are protected from automated systems that exploit or manipulate them.SR-023, SR-025
UR-020Older peopleMustIncome security and care in later life are maintained while pension systems change.SR-003, SR-004
UR-021Older peopleShouldOlder people have human company and care. Automation supports this and does not replace it.SR-015, SR-032
UR-022Disabled peopleMustAll services and automated systems are accessible by design.SR-005, SR-026
UR-023Disabled peopleMustAdditional needs are met on top of the universal floor.SR-003
UR-024Workers and communities in transitionMustWorkers get notice, income protection and retraining when their roles are automated.SR-021, SR-028, SR-031
UR-025Workers and communities in transitionShouldPlaces that depend on industries being automated keep their community institutions and identity.SR-031, SR-032
UR-026Workers and communities in transitionShouldWorkers have a voice in decisions about automation in their sector.SR-022, SR-030
UR-027Indigenous peoplesMustFree, prior and informed consent is obtained for any programme activity that affects Indigenous lands, resources or cultures.SR-051
UR-028Indigenous peoplesShouldTraditional knowledge and governance are recognised in the stewardship of land and nature.SR-051
UR-029People in low-income countriesMustPeople in every country share in the gains from automation, wherever the automated capital is owned.SR-006, SR-021, SR-044
UR-030People in low-income countriesShouldCountries can get automation technology, skills and infrastructure on fair terms.SR-045
UR-031People in low-income countriesMustFinancing the transition does not leave countries with unsustainable debt.SR-044, SR-046
UR-032Carers and familiesShouldUnpaid care work is recognised and supported.SR-003, SR-029
UR-033Carers and familiesMustEntitlements belong to individuals, not to households or heads of household.SR-001, SR-055
UR-034Wild animalsMustWild species have enough intact, connected habitat to sustain viable populations.SR-019, SR-033, SR-034
UR-035Wild animalsShouldAutonomous vehicles, drones, farm machines and infrastructure are designed to avoid killing or disturbing wildlife.SR-027
UR-036Wild animalsShouldLight, noise, chemical and plastic pollution are reduced.SR-027, SR-038
UR-037Wild animalsMustProgramme activity causes no net increase in extinction risk, and extinctions caused by people are halted.SR-033, SR-035, SR-036
UR-038Wild animalsShouldMigration routes on land, in water and in the air stay open.SR-027, SR-034
UR-039Domesticated and farmed animalsMustAnimals in human care have good welfare throughout their lives.SR-033, SR-037
UR-040Domesticated and farmed animalsShouldAutomated animal husbandry is monitored against welfare standards, with a human who is accountable.SR-037
UR-041Domesticated and farmed animalsCouldFood systems move away from keeping animals in poor-welfare conditions.SR-010
UR-042Plants and fungiShouldThe genetic diversity of plants and fungi is conserved, in the wild and in collections.SR-039
UR-043Plants and fungiShouldSoils and fungal networks are protected from degradation by automated land use.SR-040
UR-044Plants and fungiShouldAutomated logistics and land management do not spread invasive species.SR-040
UR-045EcosystemsMustAt least 30 per cent of land, inland water, coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved by 2030, with more restoration after that.SR-019, SR-033, SR-034
UR-046EcosystemsMustDegraded ecosystems are restored.SR-035
UR-047EcosystemsMustFreshwater flows and water quality are maintained.SR-011, SR-038
UR-048EcosystemsShouldThe health of the oceans is protected, with sustainable fishing and no damaging extraction from the seabed.SR-038, SR-043
UR-049EcosystemsMustDecisions that affect any non-human user are informed by its proxy before they are taken.SR-019, SR-033
UR-050Earth systemMustThe material and energy footprint of automation stays within planetary boundaries.SR-018, SR-033, SR-041
UR-051Earth systemMustGreenhouse gas emissions reach net zero and the climate is stabilised.SR-012, SR-041
UR-052Earth systemShouldAutomated hardware is designed for repair, reuse and recycling.SR-018, SR-042
UR-053Earth systemShouldNitrogen and phosphorus pollution from automated agriculture stays within safe limits.SR-038
UR-054All peopleWon'tPersonal lifestyles and consumption are prescribed for everyone, for example through mandatory diets or rations.SR-056
UR-055Workers and communities in transitionWon'tCurrent occupations are preserved as paid employment.SR-057

Verification approach

Each requirement names how it will be verified. The Benefits and Assurance Lead reports the results at every phase gate. The methods are:

  • Statistics and surveys, for coverage, adequacy and wellbeing.
  • Audits, for privacy, safety, accessibility, welfare and land use.
  • Legal review, for entitlements and tenure.
  • Independent evaluation of pilots by academia and research institutes.
  • Monitoring by the proxy panels, for the requirements of non-human users.

Open design decisions

These decisions shape the solution and are not yet taken. The RAIDD holds the decision log.

  • What mix of an unconditional cash floor and universal basic services gives income security (D-09, to be decided in step P0-06).
  • Whether the programme is governed by a coalition of adopting states hosted by UN bodies, or by a new organisation (D-10, to be decided in step P0-09).
  • How the proxies for non-human users are appointed, and how conflicts of interest are handled (D-11, to be decided in step P0-03).
  • How the returns from automated capital are captured: tax, public ownership, voluntary commitments by firms, or a combination (D-12, to be decided in step P0-06).

Change control

The requirements will be baselined as version 1.0 at the end of Phase 0 (plan step P0-08). The Design Authority Lead keeps the traceability current. A change to a user requirement triggers a review of every solution requirement that traces to it. IDs are not reused.

The programme documents are listed below. The Control register holds the current version and link for each.

DocumentWhat it holds
Draft planOutline of the transition plan and the evidence behind it.
Next stepsRecommended steps to take the draft plan to a final version (Phase 0).
PlanThe programme's steps, with timelines, effort, owners and dependencies.
RAIDDRisks, assumptions, issues, decisions and dependencies, with owners.
RACIWho is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed, at high level and in detail.
PIDProject Initiation Document on a PRINCE2-style structure.
User Requirements DocumentRequirements of people, animals, plants, ecosystems and the Earth system, each with a MoSCoW priority.
ControlThe document register: every programme document with its version, owner and link.