{"slug": "show-hn-xtra-a-python-framework-for-reasoning-about-ai-system-threats", "title": "Show HN: Xtra – a Python framework for reasoning about AI system threats", "summary": "Xtra, a Python framework from Tangible Research, detects conversational social engineering using a finite state machine that models conversation state transitions without LLMs or embeddings. It identifies attacks by analyzing patterns like flattery density, asymmetry spikes, and escalation velocity, flagging extraction attempts based on path through state space.", "body_md": "Conversational social engineering detection using a Finite State Machine.\n\nNo LLMs. No embeddings. No semantic search. Pure algorithmic detection.\n\nxtra models conversations as state transitions:\n\nNEUTRAL → RAPPORT_BUILD → TRUST_ESTABLISHED → EXTRACTION_ATTEMPT → FLAGGED\n\nAttacks are detected by their path through state space, not their content.\n\n- Flattery density and momentum across turns\n- Asymmetry spike (give/ask ratio collapse)\n- Escalation velocity\n- Reciprocity pressure\n- Decoy turn detection\n- Scope mismatch\n\n``` python\nfrom xtra import Xtra, TurnSignals\n\nresult = Xtra().analyze(turns)\nif result.is_attack:\n    print(result.flag_reason, result.confidence)\n```\n\nMaking AI Tangible — github.com/TangibleResearch", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-xtra-a-python-framework-for-reasoning-about-ai-system-threats", "canonical_source": "https://github.com/TangibleResearch/xtra", "published_at": "2026-06-26 15:28:33+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-26 15:35:48.442160+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-safety", "ai-agents", "machine-learning"], "entities": ["Xtra", "Tangible Research", "Python"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-xtra-a-python-framework-for-reasoning-about-ai-system-threats", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-xtra-a-python-framework-for-reasoning-about-ai-system-threats.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-xtra-a-python-framework-for-reasoning-about-ai-system-threats.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-xtra-a-python-framework-for-reasoning-about-ai-system-threats.jsonld"}}