Responsible AI for regulated work

Set the rules before automating the work.

A useful workflow makes it obvious what the system may do, what a person must decide and what evidence supports the result.

Kepler26 translates those rules into workflow steps, interfaces, evaluation criteria and operating records.

Our operating position

Controls belong inside the workflow.

A general warning about AI is not enough. The design must limit what information moves, show where outputs came from, require the right review and give uncertain cases a safe place to go.

Six control areas

Questions every workflow must answer.

01

Data boundaryRules defining which information may enter an AI tool or another system, and which information must stay out.

What information may enter which system?

Classify the information in the workflow, minimize what is sent, define permitted tools and providers, and prevent sensitive material from entering unapproved environments.

Example deliverableData use mapA diagram showing what information moves between systems and which uses are allowed.
02

Source boundaryRules defining which documents and databases the system is allowed to search or use as evidence.

What may the system treat as evidence?

Define the approved source set, preserve document identity and version, and keep retrieval separate from the judgment that a source is relevant or sufficient.

Example deliverableApproved source guide and search logA guide to allowed sources plus a record of what the system searched and retrieved.
03

Human decisionA conclusion or approval that must be made by a named, accountable person.

Which conclusions need accountable review?

Name the reviewer, define what they must inspect, make approval explicit and ensure the interface does not disguise a model output as an approved decision.

Example deliverableResponsibility and approval tableA table showing who handles each task and who must review or approve the result.
04

EvaluationTesting the workflow against realistic cases to check accuracy, safety and usefulness before release.

How will we know it is good enough?

Test representative and difficult cases against task-specific criteria before release, record failure patterns and set thresholds that reflect the consequence of error.

Example deliverableTest cases, scoring guide and release recordThe examples used for testing, the rules for scoring results and the final go-live decision.
05

Exception pathThe agreed route for uncertain, unusual or failed cases that need a person to step in.

What happens when the standard path fails?

Detect missing evidence, conflicting sources, low confidence and out-of-scope requests; then route them to a named person without forcing a plausible-looking answer.

Example deliverableException and escalation guideInstructions for handling uncertain cases and routing them to the right person.
06

Operating recordThe saved history of inputs, sources, decisions, reviews and approved results for completed work.

What must remain inspectable?

Retain the inputs, sources, versions, review actions and approved outputs required for the workflow while applying the client's access and retention requirements.

Example deliverableRecord-keeping requirementsA clear list of what must be saved, how long it is kept and who may access it.

Representative control record

Make ownership inspectable.

This fictional claims-support extract shows the level of specificity we would design with a client. It is an example, not a deployed control framework or certification.

Workflow pointSystem mayHuman mustRecord
Source retrievalSearch approved source setConfirm relevance and versionSource ID and retrieval time
Passage extractionSurface matching text and locationInspect context and limitationsPage, section and excerpt
Support assessmentPresent claim and evidence togetherDecide support relationshipReviewer, decision and rationale
Approval handoffAssemble review packetApprove through the required processPacket version and approval state

Across the lifecycle

Review when the context changes.

  1. 01Before design

    Classify the work, information, decisions, users and consequences of error.

  2. 02Before build

    Agree the source, data, model, access, review and retention boundaries.

  3. 03Before release

    Evaluate realistic cases, failure modes, usability and human-review behavior.

  4. 04During operation

    Monitor exceptions, changes, review quality, adoption and unintended workarounds.

  5. 05Before scale

    Reassess performance, cost, controls and whether the workflow still deserves to exist.

Important scope note

The appropriate controls depend on the client's information, technology, policies, intended use and regulatory obligations. Kepler26 designs workflow and implementation controls with client stakeholders; we do not replace legal, privacy, security, medical or regulatory approval.

See the security and privacy approach

Start with the boundary

Bring us a workflow where speed and scrutiny both matter.

We will help make the information, evidence, review and accountability requirements concrete before selecting the technology.

Discuss the workflow