The quick read
- An approval request should show the proposed change, its destination and the assumptions that matter.
- Record whether the reviewer accepted, edited or rejected the proposal, and use recurring corrections to improve the workflow.
Review by consequence
Not every AI step deserves the same interruption. Reformatting a draft is usually easy to undo; sending a message, changing access or approving a payment has a different consequence. Place approval where the action becomes meaningful, rather than asking for permission at every harmless intermediate step.
Give the reviewer something concrete
An approval request should show the proposed change, its destination and the assumptions that matter. ‘Proceed?’ is weak when the person cannot see what will happen. For an illustrative customer email, display the recipient and complete message before sending.
Close the loop
Record whether the reviewer accepted, edited or rejected the proposal, and use recurring corrections to improve the workflow. Provide a clear way to stop execution when the situation changes. Oversight becomes ineffective if people are flooded with low-value confirmations and start approving automatically. The design goal is a manageable division of responsibility: software handles repeatable preparation, while people retain meaningful control over decisions that require context, accountability or judgement.
Sources & notes
AI-assisted editorial content checked against the linked sources.
NIST: AI Risk Management Framework
Sources reviewed for the September 2026 launch edition.