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Human-Controlled vs Autonomous Systems
Agent systems exist on a spectrum from fully human-controlled to fully autonomous. Choosing the right level of autonomy is one of the most important design decisions.
The Autonomy Spectrum
Agent systems are not simply 'manual' or 'automatic'. They exist on a spectrum.
Level 1 - Human does everything:
The human performs every step. No automation.
Level 2 - Human assisted:
The agent suggests next steps. The human approves each one before the agent acts.
Level 3 - Agent acts, human reviews:
The agent completes the task. A human reviews the result before it is finalised.
Level 4 - Agent acts with checkpoints:
The agent acts autonomously but pauses at defined checkpoints (for example, before sending an email or before deleting a record) for human approval.
Level 5 - Fully autonomous:
The agent completes the entire task without human involvement.
Most real-world agent systems should start at Level 3 or 4. Full autonomy (Level 5) requires very high confidence in the agent's reliability and extensive testing.
When to Add Human Approval
- Before any irreversible action: sending an email, deleting data, making a payment
- When confidence is low: the agent is uncertain about an important decision
- When the action has significant consequences: financial transactions, public communications
- When new information contradicts the original plan: the agent should pause and check
- On the first run of any new agent: always review the first few complete executions
Key Takeaways
- Agent systems exist on a spectrum from fully human-controlled to fully autonomous.
- Before any irreversible action: sending an email, deleting data, making a payment
- When confidence is low: the agent is uncertain about an important decision
- When the action has significant consequences: financial transactions, public communications