Level of autonomy
How far an agent acts without a person reviewing each step, from suggesting actions to acting alone within limits.
The level of autonomy describes how far an AI system or agent acts without a person reviewing each step, from suggesting actions that a human carries out, through acting after explicit approval, to acting alone within preset limits. The EU AI Act's definition of an AI system refers to varying levels of autonomy but does not grade them into fixed tiers. In practice firms set the level per action, so that low-risk reads can run freely while payments need an approval or a mandate.
Agent Minute explains this term on 28 December 2026.
Related terms
AI agentSoftware built on an AI model that pursues a set goal by planning steps and acting through tools or APIs, not only by answering.Human oversightMeasures that let people understand, monitor and, when needed, override or stop a high-risk AI system.MandateA checkable statement of what an agent may do for a principal: which action, how much, with whom and until when.Spend limitA cap on how much an agent may pay, enforced by the system that executes the payment, not by the agent.