What is a policy engine?

Definition

An artificial intelligence policy engine receives signals about a model or agent run and evaluates configured rules. Policies can consider cost, iteration count, user segment, tool output size, completion progress and other run context.

The engine should have a bounded set of permitted actions, such as compacting context, reducing output, steering or halting. A separate governor can enforce that limit so a policy cannot make an intervention outside its authorized scope.

Acronyms and aliases

agent policy governor synonymAI policy engine variantartificial intelligence policy engine variant

Frequently asked questions

What can an AI policy engine decide?

It can decide whether to allow, modify, steer, limit or stop activity based on validated run signals and rules.

Why limit the interventions a policy engine may apply?

A bounded action set prevents governance logic from becoming an unrestricted source of new agent behavior.

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