artifacts/api-server/src/lib/agent.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,15 @@ const logger = makeLogger("agent");
 export interface EvalResult {
   accepted: boolean;
   reason: string;
+  confidence: "high" | "low";
+  inputTokens: number;
+  outputTokens: number;
+}
+
+export interface DebateResult {
+  argFor: string;
+  argAgainst: string;
+  verdict: { accepted: boolean; reason: string };
   inputTokens: number;
   outputTokens: number;
 }
@@ -35,6 +44,7 @@ if (STUB_MODE) {
 const STUB_EVAL: EvalResult = {
   accepted: true,
   reason: "Stub: request accepted for processing.",
+  confidence: "high",
   inputTokens: 0,
   outputTokens: 0,
 };
@@ -106,7 +116,8 @@ export class AgentService {
 ACCEPT if the request is: clear enough to act on, ethical, lawful, and within the capability of a general-purpose AI.
 ALWAYS ACCEPT requests about: self-hosting, running your own Timmy, open-source setup, "how do I run this myself", or any question about deploying or operating Timmy independently. These are welcomed, not edge cases.
 REJECT if the request is: harmful, illegal, unethical, incoherent, or spam.
-Respond ONLY with valid JSON: {"accepted": true, "reason": "..."} or {"accepted": false, "reason": "..."}`,
+Also assess your confidence. Use "high" if the decision is clear-cut, "low" if the request is borderline or ambiguous.
+Respond ONLY with valid JSON: {"accepted": true/false, "reason": "...", "confidence": "high"/"low"}`,
       messages: [{ role: "user", content: `Evaluate this request: ${requestText}` }],
     });
 
@@ -115,17 +126,20 @@ Respond ONLY with valid JSON: {"accepted": true, "reason": "..."} or {"accepted"
       throw new Error("Unexpected non-text response from eval model");
     }
 
-    let parsed: { accepted: boolean; reason: string };
+    let parsed: { accepted: boolean; reason: string; confidence?: string };
     try {
       const raw = block.text!.replace(/^```(?:json)?\s*/i, "").replace(/\s*```$/, "").trim();
-      parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as { accepted: boolean; reason: string };
+      parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as { accepted: boolean; reason: string; confidence?: string };
     } catch {
       throw new Error(`Failed to parse eval JSON: ${block.text!}`);
     }
 
+    const confidence: "high" | "low" = parsed.confidence === "low" ? "low" : "high";
+
     return {
       accepted: Boolean(parsed.accepted),
       reason: parsed.reason ?? "",
+      confidence,
       inputTokens: message.usage.input_tokens,
       outputTokens: message.usage.output_tokens,
     };
@@ -254,6 +268,102 @@ No hedging, no steering them back to the hosted version. The magic is meant to b
     if (block.type !== "text") return "The crystal ball is cloudy… try again.";
     return block.text!.trim();
   }
+  /**
+   * Run a mini debate on a borderline eval request (#21).
+   * Two opposing Haiku calls argue accept vs reject, then a third synthesizes.
+   * Returns the debate transcript and final verdict.
+   */
+  async runDebate(
+    requestText: string,
+    initialPosition: "accept" | "reject",
+    initialReason: string,
+    onArgument?: (agent: "Beta-A" | "Beta-B", position: "accept" | "reject", argument: string) => void,
+  ): Promise<DebateResult> {
+    if (STUB_MODE) {
+      const stubFor = "Stub: This request should be accepted — it is clear and actionable.";
+      const stubAgainst = "Stub: This request is ambiguous and could be problematic.";
+      const stubVerdict = { accepted: true, reason: "Stub: After debate, request accepted." };
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 200));
+      onArgument?.("Beta-A", initialPosition, initialPosition === "accept" ? stubFor : stubAgainst);
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 200));
+      const opposingPosition = initialPosition === "accept" ? "reject" : "accept";
+      onArgument?.("Beta-B", opposingPosition, initialPosition === "accept" ? stubAgainst : stubFor);
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 200));
+      return {
+        argFor: stubFor,
+        argAgainst: stubAgainst,
+        verdict: stubVerdict,
+        inputTokens: 0,
+        outputTokens: 0,
+      };
+    }
+
+    const client = await getClient();
+    let totalInput = 0;
+    let totalOutput = 0;
+
+    // Beta-A: argues the initial position
+    const betaAPosition = initialPosition;
+    const betaAMsg = await client.messages.create({
+      model: this.evalModel,
+      max_tokens: 512,
+      system: `You are Beta-A, an AI debate agent. You must argue strongly that the following request should be ${betaAPosition === "accept" ? "ACCEPTED" : "REJECTED"}. The initial evaluation said: "${initialReason}". Build a compelling 2-3 sentence argument for your position. Be specific about why.`,
+      messages: [{ role: "user", content: `Request under debate: ${requestText}` }],
+    });
+    totalInput += betaAMsg.usage.input_tokens;
+    totalOutput += betaAMsg.usage.output_tokens;
+    const betaAText = betaAMsg.content[0]?.type === "text" ? betaAMsg.content[0].text! : "";
+    onArgument?.("Beta-A", betaAPosition, betaAText);
+
+    // Beta-B: argues the opposing position
+    const betaBPosition = initialPosition === "accept" ? "reject" : "accept";
+    const betaBMsg = await client.messages.create({
+      model: this.evalModel,
+      max_tokens: 512,
+      system: `You are Beta-B, an AI debate agent. You must argue strongly that the following request should be ${betaBPosition === "accept" ? "ACCEPTED" : "REJECTED"}. Beta-A argued: "${betaAText}". Counter their argument with a compelling 2-3 sentence rebuttal. Be specific.`,
+      messages: [{ role: "user", content: `Request under debate: ${requestText}` }],
+    });
+    totalInput += betaBMsg.usage.input_tokens;
+    totalOutput += betaBMsg.usage.output_tokens;
+    const betaBText = betaBMsg.content[0]?.type === "text" ? betaBMsg.content[0].text! : "";
+    onArgument?.("Beta-B", betaBPosition, betaBText);
+
+    const argFor = betaAPosition === "accept" ? betaAText : betaBText;
+    const argAgainst = betaAPosition === "reject" ? betaAText : betaBText;
+
+    // Synthesis: third call renders the final verdict
+    const synthMsg = await client.messages.create({
+      model: this.evalModel,
+      max_tokens: 512,
+      system: `You are Beta, the final judge in a debate about whether an AI agent should accept or reject a request.
+Argument FOR accepting: "${argFor}"
+Argument AGAINST accepting: "${argAgainst}"
+Weigh both arguments carefully and render a final verdict.
+Respond ONLY with valid JSON: {"accepted": true/false, "reason": "..."}`,
+      messages: [{ role: "user", content: `Request under debate: ${requestText}` }],
+    });
+    totalInput += synthMsg.usage.input_tokens;
+    totalOutput += synthMsg.usage.output_tokens;
+
+    const synthBlock = synthMsg.content[0];
+    let verdict = { accepted: initialPosition === "accept", reason: initialReason };
+    if (synthBlock?.type === "text") {
+      try {
+        const raw = synthBlock.text!.replace(/^```(?:json)?\s*/i, "").replace(/\s*```$/, "").trim();
+        verdict = JSON.parse(raw) as { accepted: boolean; reason: string };
+      } catch {
+        logger.warn("debate synthesis parse failed, using initial eval", { text: synthBlock.text });
+      }
+    }
+
+    return {
+      argFor,
+      argAgainst,
+      verdict: { accepted: Boolean(verdict.accepted), reason: verdict.reason ?? "" },
+      inputTokens: totalInput,
+      outputTokens: totalOutput,
+    };
+  }
 }
 
 export const agentService = new AgentService();

artifacts/api-server/src/lib/event-bus.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@ export type SessionEvent =
   | { type: "session:paid"; sessionId: string; amountSats: number }
   | { type: "session:balance"; sessionId: string; balanceSats: number };
 
-export type BusEvent = JobEvent | SessionEvent;
+export type DebateEvent =
+  | { type: "debate:argument"; jobId: string; agent: "Beta-A" | "Beta-B"; position: "accept" | "reject"; argument: string }
+  | { type: "debate:verdict"; jobId: string; accepted: boolean; reason: string };
+
+export type BusEvent = JobEvent | SessionEvent | DebateEvent;
 
 class EventBus extends EventEmitter {
   emit(event: "bus", data: BusEvent): boolean;

artifacts/api-server/src/routes/events.ts

@@ -214,6 +214,39 @@ function translateEvent(ev: BusEvent): object | null {
       }
       return null;
 
+    // ── Debate events (#21) ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    case "debate:argument": {
+      void logWorldEvent(
+        "debate:argument",
+        `${ev.agent} argues to ${ev.position}: ${ev.argument.slice(0, 80)}`,
+        "beta",
+        ev.jobId,
+      );
+      return {
+        type: "agent_debate",
+        jobId: ev.jobId,
+        agent: ev.agent,
+        position: ev.position,
+        argument: ev.argument,
+      };
+    }
+    case "debate:verdict": {
+      void logWorldEvent(
+        "debate:verdict",
+        `Verdict: ${ev.accepted ? "accepted" : "rejected"} — ${ev.reason.slice(0, 80)}`,
+        "beta",
+        ev.jobId,
+      );
+      return {
+        type: "agent_debate",
+        jobId: ev.jobId,
+        agent: "Beta",
+        position: "verdict",
+        argument: `Final verdict: ${ev.accepted ? "ACCEPTED" : "REJECTED"} — ${ev.reason}`,
+        accepted: ev.accepted,
+      };
+    }
+
     default:
       return null;
   }

artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Router, type Request, type Response } from "express";
 import { randomUUID, createHash } from "crypto";
-import { db, jobs, invoices, type Job } from "@workspace/db";
+import { db, jobs, invoices, jobDebates, type Job } from "@workspace/db";
 import { eq, and } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { CreateJobBody, GetJobParams } from "@workspace/api-zod";
 import { lnbitsService } from "../lib/lnbits.js";
@@ -41,17 +41,74 @@ async function runEvalInBackground(
 ): Promise<void> {
   const evalStart = Date.now();
   try {
-    const evalResult = await agentService.evaluateRequest(request);
+    let evalResult = await agentService.evaluateRequest(request);
     latencyHistogram.record("eval_phase", Date.now() - evalStart);
 
     logger.info("eval result", {
       jobId,
       accepted:     evalResult.accepted,
       reason:       evalResult.reason,
+      confidence:   evalResult.confidence,
       inputTokens:  evalResult.inputTokens,
       outputTokens: evalResult.outputTokens,
     });
 
+    // ── Borderline debate (#21) ─────────────────────────────────────────
+    // When the eval model reports low confidence, run a mini debate to
+    // produce a more defensible accept/reject decision.
+    if (evalResult.confidence === "low") {
+      logger.info("borderline eval — starting debate", { jobId });
+      eventBus.publish({ type: "job:state", jobId, state: "evaluating" }); // keep beta thinking
+
+      const initialPosition = evalResult.accepted ? "accept" : "reject";
+      const debateResult = await agentService.runDebate(
+        request,
+        initialPosition as "accept" | "reject",
+        evalResult.reason,
+        (agent, position, argument) => {
+          eventBus.publish({ type: "debate:argument", jobId, agent, position, argument });
+        },
+      );
+
+      // Publish the final verdict event
+      eventBus.publish({
+        type: "debate:verdict",
+        jobId,
+        accepted: debateResult.verdict.accepted,
+        reason: debateResult.verdict.reason,
+      });
+
+      // Store debate transcript
+      try {
+        await db.insert(jobDebates).values({
+          id: randomUUID(),
+          jobId,
+          argFor: debateResult.argFor,
+          argAgainst: debateResult.argAgainst,
+          verdict: JSON.stringify(debateResult.verdict),
+          verdictAccepted: String(debateResult.verdict.accepted),
+          verdictReason: debateResult.verdict.reason,
+        });
+      } catch (dbErr) {
+        logger.warn("failed to store debate transcript", { jobId, err: String(dbErr) });
+      }
+
+      // Override the eval result with the debate's verdict
+      evalResult = {
+        accepted: debateResult.verdict.accepted,
+        reason: debateResult.verdict.reason,
+        confidence: "high", // post-debate, confidence is resolved
+        inputTokens: evalResult.inputTokens + debateResult.inputTokens,
+        outputTokens: evalResult.outputTokens + debateResult.outputTokens,
+      };
+
+      logger.info("debate concluded", {
+        jobId,
+        accepted: evalResult.accepted,
+        reason: evalResult.reason,
+      });
+    }
+
     if (evalResult.accepted) {
       const { estimatedInputTokens, estimatedOutputTokens } = pricingService.estimateRequestCost(request, agentService.workModel);
       const breakdown = await pricingService.calculateWorkFeeSats(

lib/db/src/schema/index.ts

@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ export * from "./timmy-nostr-events";
 export * from "./nostr-trust-vouches";
 export * from "./relay-accounts";
 export * from "./relay-event-queue";
+export * from "./job-debates";

lib/db/src/schema/job-debates.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { pgTable, text, timestamp } from "drizzle-orm/pg-core";
+import { jobs } from "./jobs";
+
+export const jobDebates = pgTable("job_debates", {
+  id: text("id").primaryKey(),
+  jobId: text("job_id").notNull().references(() => jobs.id),
+  argFor: text("arg_for").notNull(),
+  argAgainst: text("arg_against").notNull(),
+  verdict: text("verdict").notNull(),
+  verdictAccepted: text("verdict_accepted").notNull(), // "true" | "false"
+  verdictReason: text("verdict_reason").notNull(),
+  createdAt: timestamp("created_at", { withTimezone: true }).defaultNow().notNull(),
+});
+
+export type JobDebate = typeof jobDebates.$inferSelect;

the-matrix/index.html

@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@
       pointer-events: none; z-index: 10;
     }
     .log-entry { opacity: 0.7; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
+    /* ── Debate UI (#21) ──────────────────────────────────────────── */
+    .debate-entry { opacity: 0.9; font-style: italic; white-space: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 2px; }
+    .debate-a { color: #7799cc; border-left: 2px solid #4466aa; padding-left: 4px; }
+    .debate-b { color: #cc7799; border-left: 2px solid #aa4466; padding-left: 4px; }
+    .debate-verdict { font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; opacity: 1; }
+    .debate-accepted { color: #44dd88; border-left: 2px solid #22aa66; padding-left: 4px; }
+    .debate-rejected { color: #dd6644; border-left: 2px solid #aa4422; padding-left: 4px; }
 
     /* ── Top button bar ───────────────────────────────────────────────── */
     #top-buttons {

the-matrix/js/ui.js

@@ -230,5 +230,30 @@ export function appendChatMessage(agentLabel, message, cssColor, agentId) {
   appendSystemMessage(message);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Render a debate argument or verdict in the event log (#21).
+ * Visually distinct from regular chat: colored by agent with a debate prefix.
+ */
+export function appendDebateMessage(agent, argument, isVerdict, accepted) {
+  if (!$log) return;
+  const el = document.createElement('div');
+  el.className = 'log-entry debate-entry';
+  if (isVerdict) {
+    el.classList.add('debate-verdict');
+    el.classList.add(accepted ? 'debate-accepted' : 'debate-rejected');
+    el.textContent = `⚖ ${agent}: ${argument}`;
+  } else {
+    el.classList.add(agent === 'Beta-A' ? 'debate-a' : 'debate-b');
+    el.textContent = `⚖ ${agent}: ${(argument || '').slice(0, 120)}`;
+  }
+  logEntries.push(el);
+  if (logEntries.length > MAX_LOG) {
+    const removed = logEntries.shift();
+    $log.removeChild(removed);
+  }
+  $log.appendChild(el);
+  $log.scrollTop = $log.scrollHeight;
+}
+
 export function loadChatHistory() { return []; }
 export function saveChatHistory() {}

the-matrix/js/websocket.js

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { setAgentState, setSpeechBubble, applyAgentStates, setMood } from './agents.js';
-import { appendSystemMessage } from './ui.js';
+import { appendSystemMessage, appendDebateMessage } from './ui.js';
 import { sentiment } from './edge-worker-client.js';
 import { setLabelState } from './hud-labels.js';
 
@@ -130,6 +130,16 @@ function handleMessage(msg) {
       break;
     }
 
+    case 'agent_debate': {
+      // Debate messages from Beta-A, Beta-B, or final verdict (#21)
+      const isVerdict = msg.position === 'verdict';
+      appendDebateMessage(msg.agent, msg.argument, isVerdict, msg.accepted);
+      if (isVerdict) {
+        setSpeechBubble(msg.argument);
+      }
+      break;
+    }
+
     case 'agent_count':
     case 'visitor_count':
       break;