# AISAC: An Integrated multi-agent System for Transparent, Retrieval-Grounded Scientific Assistance

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.14043 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.14043/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Knowledge- and tool-augmented reasoning, one of 17 directions in LLM reasoning.
- Builds on 3 of its 17 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Nov 2025.

## Placed in

- LLM reasoning / [Knowledge- and tool-augmented reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/lr/knowledge-and-tool-augmented-reasoning/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [ReAct: Synergizing Reasoning and Acting in Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.03629/) (2022)
- [Reflexion: Language Agents with Verbal Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.11366/) (2023)
- [AutoGen: Enabling Next-Gen LLM Applications via Multi-Agent Conversation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.08155/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [A Survey of Agent Memory in the Second Half: Towards Self-Evolving and Long-Horizon Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.06052/) (2026)
- [From Chaos to Clarity: Schema-Constrained AI for Auditable Biomedical Evidence Extraction from Full-Text PDFs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.14267/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

AI Scientific Assistant Core (AISAC) is a transparent, modular multi-agent runtime developed at Argonne National Laboratory to support long-horizon, evidence-grounded scientific reasoning. Rather than proposing new agent algorithms or claiming autonomous scientific discovery, AISAC contributes a governed execution substrate that operationalizes key requirements for deploying agentic AI in scientific practice, including explicit role semantics, budgeted context management, traceable execution, and reproducible interaction with tools and knowledge. AISAC enforces four structural guarantees for scientific reasoning: (1) declarative agent registration with runtime-enforced role semantics and automatic system prompt generation; (2) budgeted orchestration via explicit per-turn context and delegation depth limits; (3) role-aligned memory access across episodic, dialogue, and evidence layers; and (4) trace-driven transparency through persistent execution records and a live event-stream interface. These guarantees are implemented through hybrid persistent memory (SQLite and dual FAISS indices), governed retrieval with agent-scoped RAG, structured tool execution with schema validation, and a configuration-driven bootstrap mechanism that enables project specific extension without modifying the shared core. AISAC is currently deployed across multiple scientific workflows at Argonne, including combustion science, materials research, and energy process safety, demonstrating its use as a reusable substrate for domain-specialized AI scientific assistants.