Task Suitability Checklist

Decide whether AI, fixed software, another method, or human-led work is the right choice.

For AI Foundations learners · Printable PDF · 2 pages · Also available online below

Use this checklist before giving real work or information to an AI system.

T - Task

• What action and result are required?
• Is the work generation, transformation, extraction, classification, analysis, search, calculation, or decision?
• Does a mixed task need to be split into smaller parts?

A - Accuracy and authority

• What evidence must support the result?
• Does the evidence need to be current or official?
• Which errors are unacceptable?
• Who or what could be harmed by a mistake?
• Can the result or action be reversed?
• Who has authority to review and approve it?

S - Sensitivity

• Is each input public, internal, confidential, personal, or prohibited?
• Is the proposed tool approved for that category?
• Can names, secrets, and unnecessary details be removed?
• Do I know how the service stores, uses, shares, and deletes inputs?

K - Kind of tool and control

• Would search, a calculator, a spreadsheet, fixed software, or a specialist be better?
• Is one reversible AI draft enough?
• Does the task need a controlled multi-step workflow?
• If tools or actions are delegated, are permissions, limits, approvals, monitoring, and logs defined?
• Is human-led work the safer choice?

S - Stop conditions

• Which missing evidence should stop the task?
• What happens if trusted sources disagree?
• What happens if sensitive information appears?
• Which unusual result or irreversible action requires escalation?
• Who receives the task after it stops?

Recommendation sentence

Use [method] for [bounded task] because [evidence and risk reason]. Use only [permitted input]. [reviewer] must verify [checks] and approve [action]. Stop and escalate to [owner] if [conditions].