AI Risk FAQ
What is a human-in-the-loop requirement?
Quick answer
Human-in-the-loop commonly means a person reviews or approves a step in an AI-assisted process. Human oversight is broader: the person must have the understanding, authority and practical means to monitor and intervene. The appropriate level of review depends on the system and the consequence of a mistake.
What genuine human oversight requires
Give the reviewer access to the evidence needed to challenge an output, enough time to review it and a clear route to reject or escalate it. A nominal sign-off is ineffective if staff cannot see the inputs or cannot change the outcome. Sampling may be useful for some monitoring tasks, but it is not a universal substitute for individual review where the law or the decision requires it.
EU AI Act human oversight requirements in detail
Article 14 addresses design for human oversight of high-risk systems; Article 26 addresses the deployer's assignment of competent, trained and authorised people. Those requirements have the relevant high-risk application and transition dates. Separate GDPR or sectoral duties may already apply. Define who can pause the system, the conditions for doing so and how the organisation operates while the issue is investigated.
Legal references reviewed 4 October 2026. High-risk provisions have phased application and transition rules. Sources: Commission timetable, deployer duties, impact-assessment scope and literacy guidance.
Acuity AI Advisory helps Irish organisations meet EU AI Act human oversight requirements for high-risk AI deployments. See our EU AI Act compliance services.