The following practical guides are intended to help organizations determine what they should do before, during, and after deploying an AI agent. The guides outline the documentation, approvals, testing, and monitoring recommended at different phases of an agent’s life cycle.

The practical guide to internal-facing agents is intended for AI agents used only within an organization. This guide allows for more risk and fast approvals. It documents two phases of development: the pilot and the internal launch. Practitioners looking for stronger requirements and governance for their internal processes should consider adopting elements of the practical guide to external-facing agents.

The practical guide to external-facing agents is intended for AI agents used by the public. This guide takes a more conservative approach to risk and requires a more thorough review process. It documents four phases of development: the internal users pilot, the external users pilot, the external launch, and the continuous improvement to best practices.

Next section: Practical Guide to Internal-Facing AI Agents