> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.outband.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Trust Levels

> A deep dive into Outband's four trust levels -- Observer, Drafter, Auto+Review, and Full Delegation.

Outband uses a progressive trust model. You start with full control and gradually give the AI more autonomy as you become confident in its accuracy.

## The Four Trust Levels

### Observer

**What the AI does**: Reads, categorizes, and summarizes your messages. Produces your Daily Briefing.

**What the AI does not do**: Take any action. No drafts, no responses, no archiving.

**Best for**: New users getting comfortable with Outband; contacts where you always want to handle communication personally.

**Available on**: All plans (including Starter/free).

***

### Drafter

**What the AI does**: Everything in Observer, plus generates draft responses for you to review.

**What you do**: Review each draft, edit if needed, then approve or reject before anything is sent.

**Best for**: Users who want AI assistance but want to review every message before it goes out.

**Available on**: Professional (\$60/month) and above.

***

### Auto+Review

**What the AI does**: Handles routine messages automatically (acknowledges receipt, answers simple questions, files FYI items). Presents a daily digest of what it handled.

**What you do**: Review the daily digest. Override any actions you disagree with.

**Best for**: Users with high email volume who want to focus on strategic communication while routine items are handled automatically.

**Available on**: Professional (\$60/month) and above.

<Info>
  In Auto+Review mode, VIP contacts and high-sensitivity items are never auto-handled. They always require your personal review.
</Info>

***

### Full Delegation

**What the AI does**: Handles all communication autonomously. Only surfaces items for escalation -- unusual situations, low-confidence decisions, or topics you have flagged as requiring personal attention.

**What you do**: Review escalated items only. Everything else is handled.

**Best for**: Executives who want to focus on high-level decisions and trust the AI to handle day-to-day communication.

**Available on**: Executive (\$200/month).

## How Trust Affects Your Experience

| Aspect          | Observer                    | Drafter                               | Auto+Review                                    | Full Delegation               |
| --------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Daily Briefing  | All items shown             | All items shown, drafts attached      | Urgent items + digest of auto-handled          | Escalated items only          |
| Drafts          | None                        | Generated for review                  | Generated for complex items; routine auto-sent | Generated and sent            |
| Notifications   | All messages                | All messages + draft-ready alerts     | Urgent + digest summary                        | Escalations only              |
| Your daily time | \~30 min reviewing briefing | \~20 min reviewing + approving drafts | \~10 min reviewing digest                      | \~5 min reviewing escalations |

## Trust Is Per-Contact

Trust is not all-or-nothing. You can set different trust levels for different contacts:

* **Your team** -- Auto+Review (routine items handled, important decisions surface)
* **Your CEO** -- Observer (always review personally)
* **Newsletter senders** -- Auto+Review or Full Delegation (auto-archive or unsubscribe)
* **Key clients** -- Drafter (AI drafts, you review)

## Safety Mechanisms

Outband includes several safety mechanisms to prevent problems:

1. **VIP contacts are never auto-handled** -- Even at Full Delegation, VIP contacts require your review
2. **Trust auto-downgrades on errors** -- If Outband makes mistakes, it automatically reduces its trust level for that contact
3. **Sensitivity detection** -- Topics flagged as sensitive (legal, financial, personal) always escalate regardless of trust level
4. **Confidence thresholds** -- Outband only acts autonomously when it has high confidence in its decision. Low-confidence items are escalated for your review.
5. **Full audit trail** -- Every action Outband takes is logged and reviewable

## Changing Trust Levels

You can change trust levels at any time:

* **Upgrading**: Takes effect immediately. Outband begins processing at the new trust level.
* **Downgrading**: Takes effect immediately. Any pending auto-actions are paused for your review.
* **Per-contact changes**: Override the global level for specific contacts from their Contact Model page.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Trust Management" icon="sliders" href="/journeys/trust-management">
    Step-by-step guide to configuring trust.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Daily Briefing" icon="newspaper" href="/journeys/daily-briefing">
    How trust levels change your briefing experience.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>