AI Glossary Term
What does “Safety Case” mean?
A structured argument, supported by evidence, that an AI system is safe for a defined context of use.
How Safety Case works
Example
Before deploying a drug-dosage assistant in a hospital, the team writes a safety case: the claim, the testing evidence, known failure modes, and the checks that catch them. Reviewers can then challenge the reasoning.
Why it matters
Safety cases make the reasons for trusting a system explicit and open to review. The approach comes from fields such as aviation and nuclear power.
Common questions
Does it prove safety?
No. It presents a reasoned case that can be wrong or incomplete, which is why independent review matters.
Who writes one?
The developer or operator, usually reviewed by independent experts or regulators.
Is it used for AI?
Some AI labs and researchers have proposed or used safety cases for advanced models.