# What if Pinocchio Were a Reinforcement Learning Agent: A Normative End-to-End Pipeline

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.16651 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.16651/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in RL training of language and agent models, one of 15 directions in Deep reinforcement learning methods.
- First posted on arXiv 17 Mar 2026.

## Placed in

- Deep reinforcement learning methods / [RL training of language and agent models](https://mlsanity.com/deeprl/rl-training-of-language-and-agent-models/)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has developed quickly. With this rapid progression came the need for systems capable of complying with the rules and norms of our society so that they can be successfully and safely integrated into our daily lives. Inspired by the story of Pinocchio in ``Le avventure di Pinocchio - Storia di un burattino'', this thesis proposes a pipeline that addresses the problem of developing norm compliant and context-aware agents. Building on the AJAR, Jiminy, and NGRL architectures, the work introduces pino, a hybrid model in which reinforcement learning agents are supervised by argumentation-based normative advisors. In order to make this pipeline operational, this thesis also presents a novel algorithm for automatically extracting the arguments and relationships that underlie the advisors' decisions. Finally, this thesis investigates the phenomenon of textitnorm avoidance, providing a definition and a mitigation strategy within the context of reinforcement learning agents. Each component of the pipeline is empirically evaluated. The thesis concludes with a discussion of related work, current limitations, and directions for future research.