When to Delegate to AI Agents: A Decision Framework

Delegating work to AI agents requires systematic evaluation. Here's a framework to determine what tasks are ready for agent assistance.

The Three-Factor Model

1. Task Predictability

Delegate when:

• Clear input/output patterns exist
• Success criteria are measurable
• Edge cases are well-documented
• Similar tasks have been completed successfully

Keep human-led when:

• Requirements change frequently
• Context heavily influences approach
• Creative problem-solving is essential

2. Error Impact

High delegation candidates:

• Draft content creation
• Data formatting and cleanup
• Initial research and summarization
• Routine status updates

Human oversight required:

• Customer-facing communications
• Financial decisions
• Legal document preparation
• Strategic planning

3. Monitoring Capability

Can you effectively review the output?

• Do you understand the domain well enough to spot errors?
• Can you verify results quickly?
• Are there clear quality checkpoints?

Implementation Steps

1. Start small: Begin with low-risk, high-volume tasks
2. Set quality gates: Define specific review criteria
3. Track performance: Monitor accuracy rates and time savings
4. Iterate boundaries: Expand or contract delegation based on results

Red Flags for Delegation

• Tasks requiring regulatory compliance
• Work involving sensitive personal data
• Decisions with irreversible consequences
• Activities requiring real-time human judgment

Sample Decision Matrix

Task Type Predictability Error Impact Monitor Ease Delegate? Email drafts High Low High Yes Code review Medium High High Partial Customer escalation Low High Medium No Data entry High Low High Yes

Start with tasks that score "High" predictability, "Low" error impact, and "High" monitoring ease.