converge · Strategy · 45–90 min · 4-15 people · medium energy

The Autonomy Standard

Replace a blanket AI policy with a one-page tiered standard. Tier 1: low stakes, no sensitive data, use freely. Tier 2: reaches a client, colleague or record, so a defined human review happens before it leaves your hands. Tier 3: regulated or confidential, documented approval before AI is used at all.

When to use The Autonomy Standard

Use when an organisation has a vague AI policy and shadow use has quietly begun.

What it solves

Shadow AI use is worse than considered use, because it cannot be audited, learned from, or improved.

How to run The Autonomy Standard, step by step

  1. Name one process that produces work for external eyes or for the record. Write what it produces (10 min).
  2. Read the current policy aloud. Ask the operators what they actually do. Note the gap (10 min).
  3. In three groups, draft the kinds of work in this process belonging to each tier, with real examples (25 min).
  4. For Tier 2, name who reviews. For Tier 3, name who signs off. A tier with no name is not a tier (15 min).
  5. Assign a single owner who updates the standard quarterly. Agree the date (5 min).

Materials needed

  • One-page template printed per group
  • Pens
  • Wall space for the draft
  • The Role-on-the-Wall output

Facilitator tips

  • The people who sign the tiers must be the ones who will defend them if something goes wrong. Get them in the room.
  • If the draft runs past one page, or uses compliance language, no operator will use it. Cut it.
  • Do not let Legal or IT write this alone. Operators present, in one room, in one day.

Common pitfalls

  • The group writes an aspirational standard nobody follows. Anchor every tier in a real example from last week.
  • Tiers are defined by data sensitivity only, ignoring who the output reaches. Both axes matter.

What it produces

A one-page, plain-language tiered standard with worked examples and a named owner.

Origin

Marco van Hout · Demadera — AI Capability Playbook (VERIFY, letter E). — source

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