Platform · Reasoning & Investigation
Evidence first.Then explanation.
Aether plans an investigation, runs each step against your systems, and keeps evidence, findings and hypotheses apart.
What's insideReasoning & Investigation
- Multi-step investigation
Each result decides the next step.
- Evidence
Successful source results and supported computation.
- Findings
Measured statements, each tied to its evidence.
- Hypotheses
Possible explanations, kept separate and testable.
- Decision support
Options, trade-offs and assumptions. Decisions stay with people.
- Forecasting, regression, clustering
Where supported, on governed data.
- Limitations are not evidence
A failed operation never stands for a business condition.
- Asks when unclear
Ambiguous meaning becomes a question.
Investigation
Why did gross margin fall?
Step by step.
Each column depends only on the one before it.
Finance / Q3 margin review / InvestigationIllustrativeClarified“Last quarter” = Q3 FY26, Jul–Sep· declared calendar, Finance
Evidence4
E1 · queryMargin by region, Q2 → Q31,284,602 rows · Finance model
E2 · queryCost per unit by region6 cost lines × 3 regions
E3 · queryPrice index by regionEMEA flat, ±0.3%
LimitationSupplier price feed unavailableRecorded as a gap, not as evidence
Findings3
F1 · from E1Gross margin −3.2 pts to 38.3%
F2 · from E1EMEA contributes −1.9 pts
F3 · from E2, E3EMEA cost per unit +5.8%, prices flat
Hypotheses2
H1Open · trackedInbound freight cost per unit drives the EMEA declineTest: freight stays above USD 4.50 through Q4
H2OpenMix shifted toward lower-margin IndustrialNext step: margin by product group
Decision supportPeople decide
Forecast · from F1Q4 FY26 margin 37.9–38.8%Regression on 12 weeks, where supported
OptionsRenegotiate EMEA lanesTrade-off: effect lags one quarterAdjust EMEA pricesTrade-off: volume risk
AssumptionFreight stays above USD 4.50Owner: Finance leadership
Fig. — Evidence, findings, hypotheses, decision supportIllustrative data