Judgment vs Automation

Automation executes rules. Judgment evaluates whether the rule should apply.

Automation can be valuable where conditions are stable, consequences are reversible, and authority has already been defined. It becomes risky when speed and scale hide the absence of judgment.

Responsibility Risk

High-speed automation increases responsibility risk because actions can compound before human review occurs. The faster the system moves, the more important it becomes to define authority before execution.

Irreversible Effects

Irreversible effects require explicit authority and review. If the action cannot be fully undone, automation must not substitute for accountable judgment.