---
title: Autonomy State Machine
slug: autonomy-state-machine
url: https://templeton.host/lexicon/autonomy-state-machine/
type: defined-term
inDefinedTermSet: https://templeton.host/lexicon
author: Andrew Templeton
---

# Autonomy State Machine

## Definition

A graduated trust system for AI deployments with three states: Disabled, HITL (human verifies every output), and Autonomous (spot-check only). Transitions are driven by statistical evidence with hysteresis to prevent oscillation. See: The Promotion Protocol.

## Why this term exists

Binary thinking about AI (works / doesn't work) misses the entire middle ground where AI assists but doesn't decide. The state machine makes that middle ground operational.

## See also

- [The Promotion Protocol](https://templeton.host/frameworks/promotion-protocol)
- [Dollarized Confusion Matrix](https://templeton.host/tools/dollarized-confusion-matrix)
- [Drift Detector](https://templeton.host/lexicon/drift-detector)
- [Gold Standard](https://templeton.host/lexicon/gold-standard)

Canonical URL: https://templeton.host/lexicon/autonomy-state-machine/