Every step in a workflow runs at one of three automation levels.
| Level | Name | Who runs it | Human approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Autonomous | Automation | None (runs on its own) |
| L2 | Automation + approval | Automation | A human must approve the output |
| L3 | Manual | A human | N/A (fully manual) |
Each step has a max level, the highest level it's allowed to reach. A step whose ceiling is L2 can never drop its approval gate, no matter how well it performs.
A step's level comes from its definition:
requires_approval → L2, automation runs but a human approves.Read Promotion & drift to see how an L2 step can be promoted to L1, and pulled back.
When an automated step (L1 or L2) completes by hand instead, it's recorded as an override. The platform tracks overrides so autonomy and override stats stay accurate even when the workflow definition changes.