operator
What It Means
An operator is the person or organization that runs and controls an AI system on a day-to-day basis. This includes making decisions about how the system operates, monitoring its performance, and intervening when human judgment is needed. The operator has direct responsibility for the system's actions and outcomes.
Why Chief AI Officers Care
CAIOs need to clearly define who serves as the operator for each AI system because this role carries legal liability and regulatory accountability. When AI systems make mistakes or cause harm, regulators and courts will look to the operator as the responsible party. Clear operator designation is essential for insurance coverage, compliance reporting, and establishing chains of accountability.
Real-World Example
A logistics company uses an AI system to route delivery trucks, but human dispatchers serve as operators who can override the AI's recommendations during severe weather or traffic incidents. When the AI suggests a route through a flood zone, the dispatcher-operator intervenes and manually reroutes the truck, taking responsibility for that operational decision.
Common Confusion
People often confuse the operator with the developer or vendor of the AI system. The operator is whoever is actually running and controlling the system in practice, not necessarily the company that built it or provides the software.
Industry-Specific Applications
See how this term applies to healthcare, finance, manufacturing, government, tech, and insurance.
Healthcare: In healthcare, the operator is typically the healthcare institution, department, or designated clinical team that deploy...
Finance: In finance, the operator is the financial institution or entity that deploys and manages AI systems for activities like ...
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Includes:
- 6 industry-specific applications
- Relevant regulations by sector
- Real compliance scenarios
- Implementation guidance
Technical Definitions
NISTNational Institute of Standards and Technology
"A role assumed by the person performing remote control or teleoperation, semi-autonomous operations, or other human-in-the-loop types of operations"Source: SP1011
"Individual or organization that performs the operations of a system."Source: IEEE_Soft_Vocab
"Individual or organization that performs the operations of a system."Source: SP800-160
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