Glossary — Agentic Finance
What is Human-in-the-Loop for AI Agents?
1 min read Updated
HITL requires explicit human approval for certain agent actions — particularly high-value or high-risk transactions — providing safety checkpoints within autonomous workflows.
WHY IT MATTERS
Full autonomy for low-risk; HITL for edge cases. Routine operations autonomous, exceptional ones escalate to humans.
Triggers: amount thresholds, unusual recipients, velocity anomalies, policy edge cases.
Challenge is latency — human review adds minutes/hours. Good HITL minimizes frequency while maximizing review value.
HOW POLICYLAYER USES THIS
PolicyLayer supports HITL checkpoints — holding transactions, notifying reviewers, and waiting for approval before proceeding.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When required?
Above value thresholds, for new recipients, abnormal velocity, first-time contract interactions.
Defeats autonomy?
No — well-designed HITL triggers on 1-5% of transactions. 95%+ remain autonomous; humans review only what needs judgment.
Can it be bypassed?
The opposite — HITL is a safety mechanism. Kill switches handle emergencies; HITL provides deliberate case-by-case review.