The Role of Human Oversight in Artificial Intelligence: Accountability, Governance and Decision Integrity in AI-Assisted Systems

This paper examines the role of human oversight within artificial intelligence-assisted decision environments. As AI systems become increasingly integrated into government, legal, regulatory, insurance, educational, healthcare, and corporate processes, questions arise concerning accountability, authority, auditability, and procedural fairness. The paper argues that human oversight should not be treated as a symbolic approval step but as an active governance function responsible for reviewing evidence, evaluating recommendations, exercising judgment, and maintaining accountability for outcomes. The article examines challenges associated with probabilistic decision systems, automation bias, cognitive outsourcing, black-box models, liability attribution, and institutional governance. It proposes a structured oversight model that preserves human authority while allowing organisations to benefit from advances in artificial intelligence. The paper contributes to contemporary discussions concerning explainable AI, responsible AI governance, administrative accountability, regulatory assurance, and institutional trust.