Graceful Degradation

The ability of an AI system to maintain partial functionality and safe operation even when components fail or inputs fall outside normal operating parameters.

When AI encounters problems, it gets worse slowly rather than crashing completely. Like a phone that works slower with a weak signal instead of just cutting out entirely.

Graceful degradation supports operational continuity and is a governance expectation for business-critical AI systems. Your framework should define how AI systems should behave under degraded conditions to maintain safety and service quality.