AI governance glossary
Human oversight
Definition
Design and operating measures that let people effectively oversee an AI system while it is in use: understand its capabilities and limits, watch for automation bias, interpret its output, and decide not to use it, override it or stop it. Required for high-risk systems under the EU AI Act and a common expectation in other frameworks.
Source: EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). A plain-language explanation for orientation, not the legal text; follow the source for the binding wording.
Human oversight duties →Human oversight procedure template →
Laws and policies on record that use it
- EU AI ActEuropean Union · Partially applicable
- Law on Artificial IntelligenceVietnam · In force
- OMB M-25-21United States · In force
- Law for the Promotion of AI and Emerging TechnologiesEl Salvador · In force
- Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of a Foundation for TrustSouth Korea · In force
- Ontario Enhancing Digital Security and Trust Act, 2024 (Bill 194)Ontario (Canada) · Adopted
- Royal Decree 817/2023 (AI regulatory sandbox)Spain · In force
- Disposición 2/2023Argentina · In force
Duties that mention it
- Enable and assign effective human oversightEU AI Act · European Union
- Use high-risk AI as instructed, monitor it and inform affected peopleEU AI Act · European Union
- Carry out a data protection impact assessment for high-risk AI processingICO AI guidance · United Kingdom
- Apply minimum risk-management practices to high-impact AIOMB M-25-21 · United States
Related terms
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- Red teaming (AI)Structured adversarial testing in which testers try to make an AI system fail: produce harmful output, leak da...
- Fundamental rights impact assessment (FRIA)An assessment, before first use, of how a high-risk AI system could affect the people it is used on: who is af...
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Frequently asked questions
What does "Human oversight" mean?
Design and operating measures that let people effectively oversee an AI system while it is in use: understand its capabilities and limits, watch for automation bias, interpret its output, and decide not to use it, override it or stop it. Required for high-risk systems under the EU AI Act and a common expectation in other frameworks.
Where does the term Human oversight come from?
This explanation follows EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). It is a plain-language paraphrase for orientation; the source has the binding wording.
Which laws and policies use the term Human oversight?
Among the records on this site: EU AI Act (EU); Law on Artificial Intelligence (Vietnam); OMB M-25-21 (US); Law for the Promotion of AI and Emerging Technologies (El Salvador) and Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of a Foundation for Trust (South Korea).