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AI Ethics & Policy

Human-in-the-loop

An operating principle where humans review or approve AI actions at critical decision points

#human-in-the-loop#HITL#human approval

What is human-in-the-loop?

Human-in-the-loop (HITL) is a control pattern where AI can automate execution, but humans remain in approval or review steps for sensitive actions.
It is commonly applied to irreversible operations such as payments, deletions, or external communications.

How does it work?

A common sequence is "AI proposal -> human review -> execution."

  1. AI prepares a recommendation or execution plan
  2. Human checks policy fit and risk
  3. The action proceeds only after approval

Why does it matter?

HITL is one of the most practical safeguards for balancing speed and safety in AI operations.
It reduces high-impact errors while preserving accountability and auditability.

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