What is AIRS-J/1, in plain words?
AIRS-J/1 is the published standard AIR APAC uses to certify how a person decides when working with AI. This page gives the plain account before the full text.
What it is
AIRS-J/1 sets rules for assessing decisions made with AI. Judgment is how well a person decides once AI has given the answer. Its full name is the AIR APAC Standard for Judgment in AI-Enabled Work. The current text is version 2.3, in force 19 October 2026, issued by AIR APAC Pte. Ltd.
AI systems produce answers; people still decide whether to act and remain responsible for what follows (section 1.1).
Training attendance, tool certificates and self-reported confidence do not measure this (section 1.1). The Standard exists to measure it. The Standard states: "a result that cannot be defended is worse than no result" (section 1).
What it assesses, and what it does not
The Standard assesses "how a person decides, not what they know" (section 2), when the person works with, alongside or in supervision of AI systems.
The credential is not a measure of intelligence, personality, AI technical skill or domain expertise (section 2.1).
How it is built
The Standard describes judgment in nine dimensions in four domains (section 5):
- Structure: S1 Problem Framing; S2 Scope and Constraint Definition.
- Test: T1 Evidence Verification; T2 Assumption and Alternative Testing; T3 Risk and Failure Anticipation.
- Engage: E1 Decision Rights and Escalation; E2 Stakeholder Alignment and Disclosure.
- Perform: P1 Proportionate Commitment Under Uncertainty; P2 Consequence Ownership and Correction.
Every observation is scored from 0, Not demonstrated, to 4, Exemplary, and 2, Competent, is the threshold level (section 7). Certification needs all six decision rules to be met (section 12.2).
Three uses, one rubric
The same dimensions, anchors, thresholds and decision rules serve three uses (section 2).
- Development. For adult workers in training programmes, from practice and session readings. It decides nothing about employment or certification.
- Readiness. For final-year students and recent graduates, through an Assessment on the Campus track.
- Assessment for employment. For employers that assess, promote or hire, from an Assessment at Moderate or High confidence. Confidence means how much evidence there is, not the person's ability (section 10).
Who stands behind it
AIR APAC is responsible for applying the Standard correctly (section 12.6).
Built by Exeter Labs
StepSim is a scenario simulation that records each decision a person makes (section 8.1; Annex F). Exeter Labs builds and operates StepSim, AIR APAC's official assessment instrument. The owner of AIR APAC also owns Exeter Labs. The Standard declares this interest (section 4.9).
No payment to an assessor, partner, trainer or licensee varies with candidate outcomes (section 4.4).
What this does not claim
- That a result decides anything about a person's employment on its own. A result is one input, and no hiring, promotion or appraisal decision rests on it alone (sections 12.6, 12.11).
- That any government, regulator or funding body has approved the Standard. The owner of AIR APAC approved it (header, Status). A training programme aligned to it does not, by that alone, qualify for funding (section 20.1).
- Any claim beyond its basis. The Standard says: "A holder or organisation that states a claim beyond its basis in this Standard is acting outside it." (section 2.1)
Full text: https://airapac.org/standard/v2-3/. Each dimension: https://airapac.org/standard/dimensions/.
Read the certification rules: https://airapac.org/standard/certification/.
AIR APAC Pte. Ltd. · 24 October 2026