AIORA: An AI-Native Multi-Stakeholder Orchestration Architecture for 6G Continuum

This paper elaborates on a novel AI-native architecture for emerging 6G systems harnessing open APIs, along with supporting mechanisms to empower intelligent and coordinated orchestration of edge-cloud continuum resources. The AIORA architecture facilitates a seamless creation, life-cycle management, and exposure of services in multi-segment heterogeneous environments. It integrates new breeds of tools and advanced technologies to enable zero-touch management of an edge-cloud continuum, building on top of the 3GPP Edge Enablement Layer and the respective connectivity models, allowing to cater to the high flexibility, availability, efficiency, reliability, and resilience needs of the future 6G services and applications. Several ongoing industry initiatives -- such as ETSI MEC for edge computing platforms, the GSMA Operator Platform for multi-operator service federation, and CAMARA for cross-operator API standardization -- demonstrate the growing momentum towards integrated frameworks where edge, cloud, and network resources can be seamlessly orchestrated. Our proposed AIORA architecture not only aligns with these initiatives but also extends them by leveraging a multi-segment virtual continuum concept and nested AI-driven closed loops for real-time optimization.