Just having a ‘human in the loop’ is not AI governance
A FedScoop piece argues that requiring a human to review AI decisions does not, on its own, constitute meaningful AI governance. The piece challenges the assumption that human oversight automatically ensures accountability or prevents harm.
Why this matters: Putting a person in the loop sounds reassuring. It is not the same as putting a person in control. If someone is reviewing hundreds of AI decisions an hour, rubber-stamping outputs they cannot fully evaluate, that is not oversight. It is cover. The real accountability question is whether the human can actually understand, override, and take responsibility for what the AI does. If not, the governance is theater, and real decisions are being made by a system that belongs to no one.
Who should care: AI governance · Lawyers · Administrators · General readers · Policy
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