Concept dictionary
Guardrails
Guardrails are technical, operational, or policy controls intended to keep an AI system's inputs, outputs, actions, or uses within defined boundaries.
- Review state
- Needs review
- Freshness
- Current
- Version
- 2
Also called
- Guardrails
- AI Guardrails
Remember it this wayGuardrails define and enforce the operating lane.
In plain language
Guardrails may filter content, restrict tools, limit permissions, require approval, monitor behavior, or stop work when conditions fall outside an accepted range.
Why it matters
A model's behavior alone is not a complete safety system. Effective controls need clear objectives, testing, authorized alternatives, monitoring, and ownership.
Example
A procurement assistant may draft a purchase request but cannot submit it until an authorized employee reviews the vendor, amount, and account code.
Common misconception
Guardrails are not guarantees and should not be treated as a substitute for sound architecture, limited access, human ownership, or incident response.
Related terms
Sources
- NIST, Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework: Generative Artificial Intelligence Profile (NIST AI 600-1)risk-management actions and controls for generative-AI systems across the lifecycle.
- UK AI Security Institute, Principles for Safeguard Evaluationofficial framework for evaluating safeguards as system controls rather than guarantees.
Learn more
- Test controls through [[red-teaming|Red Teaming]] and watch for [[guardrail-displacement|Guardrail Displacement]].