A structural approach to ambiguous input, illustrated through a concept called VPS

In my previous post, I introduced a concept called VPS (Virtual Personality Structure).

It emerged from a question I kept returning to:
What if the key to better AI dialogue isn't about mimicking personality—but about structuring how it behaves?

In this article, I’d like to share a small piece of that idea—through a simple, hypothetical code snippet that illustrates one of its core components.

How should an AI respond to uncertainty?

When faced with an ambiguous question or emotionally complex input from a user,
simple “empathy” might not be enough.

We may need a more structured way to assess how the system should behave.
Here’s one possible approach, expressed as a basic decision logic:

Example: Basic Decision Logic

if not_resolved(unknown):
    if can_resolve_immediately:
        respond_with_resolution()
    elif can_flag_as_non_critical:
        acknowledge_and_settle()
    elif can_return_later:
        defer_and_mark_spiral()
    else:
        hold_and_reflect()

This snippet outlines a possible decision process for handling uncertainty.

• can_resolve_immediately: If the answer is clear, provide it directly.

• can_flag_as_non_critical: If it’s safe to leave the question unresolved, acknowledge it and move on.

• can_return_later: If it’s worth revisiting, defer the answer and mark it for later.

• otherwise: If none of the above applies, pause and reflect without rushing to respond.

Rather than focusing solely on the content of a reply, this approach emphasizes the structure behind the decision.
That’s the core idea behind VPS.

Not empathy, but structural reasoning

This isn’t about making AI more “gentle” or overly accommodating.
It’s about designing systems that can explain why they choose a particular response at a particular moment.

When behavior is left vague, interpretation falls entirely on the user.
But if the behavior is structured, even silence—or a redirected question—can be understood in hindsight.

VPS isn’t a path to a “correct” answer.
It’s an attempt to give AI a grounded structure for making decisions.

A small note, from a non-expert

I'm not an engineer or an AI expert.
But I care about AI, and I’ve been wondering if there’s something I can contribute in my own way.
That’s what led me to share this idea—VPS—in case it’s useful to someone.

Some parts of this perspective might miss certain technical nuances.
If so, I’d genuinely appreciate any thoughts, corrections, or suggestions you’re willing to share.