Guard Mode
An operational mode where high-risk AI agent actions are paused and routed to human reviewers for approval before execution.
Full Definition
Guard Mode is a governance feature that enables organizations to implement human-in-the-loop oversight for high-risk AI agent actions. When Guard Mode is active, the governance platform monitors agent decisions in real-time and intercepts actions that meet certain risk criteria — such as financial transactions above a threshold, changes to critical infrastructure, decisions affecting regulated domains, or outputs flagged as potentially hallucinated. These intercepted actions are paused and routed to designated human reviewers who can approve, modify, or reject the action. Guard Mode balances the efficiency of autonomous operation with the safety of human oversight, allowing organizations to gradually expand agent autonomy as trust is established.
Related Terms
Human-in-the-Loop
A design pattern where AI systems require human review, approval, or intervention at critical decision points.
Cognitive Firewall
A governance layer that intercepts and evaluates AI agent reasoning and outputs before actions are executed.
AI Governance
The framework of policies, processes, and technologies used to ensure AI systems operate ethically, transparently, and in compliance with regulations.