Levels of Autonomy
Definition
The Levels of Autonomy scale classifies AI systems based on their operational independence and the required depth of human intervention. In the context of ASDLC, this scale determines the rigidity of Context Gates and the frequency of Verification Loops.
The ASDLC Standard: L3
While the industry pursues L5 (Full Autonomy), ASDLC is explicitly designed for L3 (Conditional Autonomy). We reject the “autopilot” illusion in favor of the Cybernetic/Instructor model, where high-autonomy bursts are bracketed by strict human constraints.
The Scale
| Level | Designation | Description | Human Role | Failure Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Assistive | Autocomplete, Chatbots. Zero state retention. | Driver. Hands on wheel 100% of time. | Distraction / Minor Syntax Errors |
| L2 | Task-Based | ”Fix this function.” Single-file context. | Reviewer. Checks output before commit. | Logic bugs within a single file. |
| L3 | Conditional | ASDLC Standard. “Implement this feature.” Multi-file orchestration. | Instructor. Defines constraints & intervenes on “drift.” | Regression to the Mean (Mediocrity). |
| L4 | High | ”Manage this backlog.” Self-directed planning. | Auditor. Post-hoc analysis. | Silent Failure. Strategic drift over time. |
| L5 | Full | ”Run this company.” | Consumer. Passive beneficiary. | Existential alignment drift. |
Analogy: The Self-Driving Standard (SAE)
We map software autonomy directly to the SAE J3016 automotive standard to clarify the “Human-in-the-Loop” requirements.
| ASDLC Level | SAE Equivalent | The “Steering Wheel” Metaphor |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | L1 (Driver Assist) | Hands On, Feet On. AI nudges the wheel (Lane Keep) or gas (Cruise), but Human drives. |
| L2 | L2 (Partial) | Hands On (mostly). AI handles steering and speed in bursts, but Human monitors constantly. |
| L3 | L3 (Conditional) | Hands Off, Eyes On. AI executes the maneuver (The Drive). Human is the Instructor ready to grab the wheel immediately. |
| L4 | L4 (High) | Mind Off. Sleeping in the back seat within a geo-fenced area. Dangerous if the “fence” (Context) breaks. |
| L5 | L5 (Full) | No Steering Wheel. The vehicle has no manual controls. |
The Uncanny Valley (L4)
ASDLC warns against Level 4.
At L4, agents are capable enough to run for days without intervention but not reliable enough to make strategic architectural decisions. This creates a “Silent Drift” risk where the codebase technically functions but slowly rots into an unmaintainable “Big Ball of Mud.”
Guideline
Remain at L3. Use Context Gates to artificially limit agent scope, forcing frequent human “Instructor” checkpoints to maintain architectural purity.