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COMPEL Glossary / agent-autonomy-spectrum

Agent autonomy spectrum

The continuum along which agentic AI systems operate — from single-turn assistance through tool-augmented reasoning to fully autonomous multi-step execution — typically described with named gradations (Level 0 through Level 5).

What this means in practice

Governance regimes and control requirements differ by level; the spectrum is the framing that lets practitioners translate autonomy into oversight obligations.

Synonyms

agent autonomy continuum , autonomy levels (agentic AI)

See also

  • Agentic AI — Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of taking autonomous actions in the world, making decisions, using external tools, and pursuing multi-step goals with minimal or no human intervention at each step.
  • Delegation — The assignment of authority from a human principal to an AI agent to act on the principal's behalf.
  • Human oversight (Art. 14) — Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, the provider-designed measures that allow natural persons to understand the capacities and limitations of a high-risk AI system, monitor its operation, and intervene or interrupt it.