Guardrails

Mechanisms or policies preventing undesirable AI outputs or actions.

Guardrails in AI are engineering and policy-level constraints intended to limit a system's behavior to acceptable ranges. They can include content filters, usage restrictions, or specialized checks that block or transform AI outputs deemed harmful, unethical, or unsafe.

Why They're Important

Guardrails address "worst-case" scenarios—e.g., disallowed content generation, privacy breaches, or actions that could cause real-world harm. They help ensure responsible AI deployment.

Implementations

Content filters for large language models
Policy modules that veto certain behaviors
Monitoring systems that shut down or alert humans if AI strays beyond bounds