How the Decision Runtime Gives AI Agents Bounded, Traceable Authority to Act

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A software design framework called the Decision Runtime has been developed to govern how workplace AI agents act on behalf of users while maintaining a verifiable record of authority. Rather than using a single binary permission flag, the system assigns each unit of work three independent authority signals covering execution, attention, and priority effect. The runtime does not grant authority itself but enforces policies defined externally by the deploying organization, keeping its logic reusable across different consumers. Operating policies can be tightened or expanded through reviewed changes, making bounded authority an ongoing, reversible property rather than a one-time launch promise. The design prioritizes answering three core operator questions on demand: what needs attention now, what the agent already did autonomously, and whether expected outcomes were delivered.

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