Experts Reveal Three-Step AI Framework to Improve Decision Making

Business leaders are turning to artificial intelligence to make smarter decisions, and experts have identified three key ways to work with AI systems.

The first level is "autopilot," where decision makers hand over entire tasks to AI systems. This works best for routine choices that happen often but have low stakes.

The second level is "tandem work," where humans and AI collaborate closely on decisions. The third is "side-by-side" assistance, where AI provides information but humans make the final call.

Experts say the approach you choose depends on how often you face the decision and how much it matters. High-value, rare decisions need more human input, while frequent, low-impact choices can be automated.

The framework addresses a common problem: people typically make important decisions alone, in their heads, with limited information. AI can process far more data and spot patterns humans might miss.

Researchers compare human decision-making to two systems. The first is quick and based on past experience, like a firefighter sizing up a burning building. The second is slower and more thoughtful, used when we need to carefully weigh options.