In short
Autonomous AI agents pursue a goal over many steps without a human approving each one. For business use, autonomy should be bounded: free on reversible work, capped by enforced spending limits, and paused for approval on money, messages and public actions.
Levels of autonomy
- Suggest: the AI proposes, you act.
- Act with approval: the AI acts after you confirm.
- Act within limits: the AI acts alone under caps.
- Fully autonomous: no checks (not recommended for money).
Why full autonomy fails in business
- Mistakes compound across steps.
- Hidden instructions in web content can redirect an agent.
- Tool loops can keep spending.
Bounded autonomy
Combine level 3 for cheap reversible work with level 2 for anything costly. Enforce both in software, not in the prompt.
Maqron's approach
Maqron's operator acts within per-action and monthly limits checked in its database, and requests approval for actions you mark as sensitive. Blocked runs do not use your monthly allowance.